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Preview: Rangers test awaits Martin O'Neill as holders Celtic eye League Cup Final spot

Celtic defeated Rangers in last season’s League Cup Final at Hampden Park (Image: Joe Prior / Visionhaus via Getty Images)

INTERIM Celtic manager Martin O'Neill faces his first major test since his return to the club in today's League Cup semi-final against city rivals Rangers.

The Co. Derry native got his second spell at the club off to a flying start with a 4-0 home win over Falkirk on Wednesday after succeeding Brendan Rodgers.

The result and performance went some way to lifting the gloom around the club, with Celtic having lost consecutive league games against Dundee and Hearts prior to Rodgers' departure.

However, even with their own woes this term, Rangers at Hampden Park will be an altogether different prospect for the holders compared to Wednesday's meeting with the Bairns.

Both Glasgow sides have had similar starts to the season, including embarrassing exits from the Champions League and changing managers after poor starts in the Scottish Premiership.

O'Neill and Rangers counterpart Danny Rohl have made winning starts in the league and after difficulties on and off the pitch, today is another step on the road to recovery, securing the winner a place in a major cup final.

However, irrespective of all the current issues swirling around both clubs, form usually goes out the window in the unpredictable environment of a Glasgow Derby.

Head-to-head

Since beating Rangers on penalties in the final of this competition last season, Celtic have failed to win any of the subsequent meetings.

Two weeks after the final, Rangers won 3-0 at Ibrox in the New Year's meeting between the sides before claiming a 3-2 win at Celtic Park in March.

The last derby of last season and the first of this term both ended in draws at Ibrox.

Before last season's League Cup final, Celtic had won nine and drawn two of the previous 12 derbies, including victories in the 2023/24 Scottish Cup Final and 2022/23 League Cup Final.

O'Neill famously led Celtic to a 6-2 victory over Rangers at Celtic Park in the first derby of his original spell at Celtic, ending a run of just one derby win in 11 for the Hoops.

Buoyed as Celtic supporters were by the win over Falkirk, it would be an optimistic fan who would bet on a repeat of that famous game in August 2000, with most probably happy to settle for any sort of win over their fierce rivals.

Form

Both Premiership sides have had relatively comfortable runs to this stage.

Celtic beat Falkirk 4-1 at home in the last-16 before winning 4-0 away to Championship side Partick Thistle in the quarter-finals.

Rangers won 4-2 at home against League One's Alloa Athletic and defeated Hibs 2-0 at Ibrox in the last round.

Outside of the competition though, neither side have been at their best.

After 10 league games, Celtic have already dropped 10 points to trail leaders Hearts by nine points, although the Jambos have played a game more.

The Hoops bounced back from those consecutive league defeats with Wednesday's convincing win over Falkirk to solidify their hold on second place.

Rangers have dropped half of the points on offer so far but after a rocky start under previous manager Russell Martin, are now unbeaten in their last five league games and are up to fourth in the table.

Both sides exited the Champions League at the play-off stage, with Rangers losing all three of their subsequent Europa League ties, while Celtic have won one of theirs.

Team news

Cameron Carter-Vickers has joined Jota on the long-term absentee list after sustaining an Achilles injury in last week's 2-1 win over Sturm Graz.

Fellow defender Alistair Johnston lasted only 26 minutes in that game on his return from injury and is expected to miss the next few weeks.

Kelechi Iheanacho was also injured early on in the same game, however, O'Neill has said he might return against Rangers, while talismanic Daizen Maeda is tipped to feature after playing the last 24 minutes against Falkirk, having missed the previous three games.

Winger Rabbi Matondo and defender Dujon Sterling are long-term injury absentees for Rangers, having not featured this season, while midfielder Kieran Dowell has missed almost three months with a foot injury, having featured in six of Rangers' first seven games.

Fellow midfielder Connor Barron is suspended for the tie, having picked up two yellow cards in the previous two rounds.

Where and when

Celtic meet Rangers in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park today, November 2, with kick-off at 2pm.

How to watch

The game will be shown live in Ireland and Britain on Premier Sports 1, with coverage starting at 1pm.

Viewers in the US can watch the game on the CBS Sports Network, while international viewers can also catch the game through Celtic TV's subscription service.