Celtic come out on top over Rangers as pundits choose best Old Firm XI

Ahead of the Old Firm clash at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon former players picked their Celtic and Rangers combined XI.

• READ MORE: Rangers star Alfredo Morelos expects January bids - and dreams of EPL move

BT Sport and BBC pundit Michael Stewart was joined by former Celtic duo Mark Wilson and Alan Stubbs, as well ex-Rangers midfielder Alex Rae for to pick the best team from the two squads based on their performances this campaign.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The quartet, filming the discussion for league sponsor’s Ladbrokes, made the point that choosing the XI 12 months ago would have seen a Celtic dominance but there was a more even split with six players from the Scottish champions with five from Rangers.

Celtic and Rangers will reconvene at Ibrox on Saturday. Picture: SNS/Craig FoyCeltic and Rangers will reconvene at Ibrox on Saturday. Picture: SNS/Craig Foy
Celtic and Rangers will reconvene at Ibrox on Saturday. Picture: SNS/Craig Foy

Allan McGregor was a unanimous pick ahead of Craig Gordon between the sticks with Wilson calling some of his performances this season “incredible”.

Opinion was split on one of the centre-backs and right-back, however Rangers duo James Tavernier and Connor Goldson were chosen ahead of Mikael Lustig and Dedryck Boyata to play alongside Filip Benkovic and Kieran Tierney who were selected by all four.

Stubbs likened Goldson’s influence to that of team-mate McGregor, while Benkovic, on loan from Leicester was recognised as the best centre-back in Scotland.

In midfield the Celtic trio of Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and Tom Rogic were picked by each pundit, although Stewart would have preferred McGregor to play wide on the left with Rangers’ Scott Arfield in the middle.

A pundits Celtic and Rangers combined XI. Picture: Ladbrokes/FacebookA pundits Celtic and Rangers combined XI. Picture: Ladbrokes/Facebook
A pundits Celtic and Rangers combined XI. Picture: Ladbrokes/Facebook

Instead Ryan Kent was chosen to play off the left-hand side with James Forrest’s inclusions unanimous.

Alfredo Morelos came in for an abundance of praise as he was picked by all four pundits to lead the attack.

Stubbs felt that too many games pass Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard and would rather go up against the Frenchman than the Colombian who occupies the whole defence.