Celtic v Livingston: How to watch, online stream details, form, SPFL match odds

Celtic's Jeremie Frimpong and Jullien Serrano in acion during a Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on September 19, 2020, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

As a result of Christopher Jullien’s positive coronavirus test and the close contact procedures, Celtic will be again without more than a dozen of their usual matchday squad and staff - including manager Neil Lennon and assistant John Kennedy.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

Match details

Celtic's Shane Duffy comes close with a header during a Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on September 19, 2020, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

Who: Celtic v Dundee United

What: SPFL Scottish Premiership

Where: Celtic Park, Glasgow

When: 3pm, Saturday, January 16, 2021

How to watch

Options are limited for this one and it’s club TV online streams for fans wishing to tune in to the last games of 2021. Celtic’s live coverage will be for supporters with a Pass to Paradise virtual season ticket only.

As with the Hoops’ other home matches this season, there is no other pay-per-view option available.

Highlights will be available though, on BBC Sportscene on the BBC Scotland channel at 7.30pm on Saturday evening, and again on BBC1 at 11.30pm, as well as the iPlayer.

Form

Celtic: WLDWWD*WW (2nd)

Livingston: WWWWWWWW (5th)

After a rough spell as autumn became winter, Celtic turned the tide in December with a series of wins and a Scottish Cup success. That’s put a positive slant on results in recent months, but optimism has been tempered by Old Firm defeat to Rangers and the following coronavirus selection crisis that’s impacted the squad. There were still several first-team players involved against Hibs on Monday though and a return to winning ways looked on the cards until Kevin Nisbet’s late equaliser.

In terms of optimism though, Livingston are flying as high as can be expected, buffeted by eight straight victories under David Martindale. Indeed the West Lothian side have lost just once since the beginning of November and have a win percentage of 83 over the last three months.

Team news

First things first, James Forrest continues to recover from his lengthy lay-off and Christopher Jullien is definitely out with his knee injury sustained against Dundee United just before the turn of the year. The defender has also returned a positive coronavirus test so he is out, as are many of his close contacts, known to include management team Neil Lennon and John Kennedy.

Established first-team stars including Ryan Christie, Olivier Ntcham, Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer were also missing for Monday’s match with Hibs so question marks remain over their eligibility for the weekend with no confirmed details of the players affected by the isolation protocols resulting from the Covid case in the squad.

Livingston were hoping to see Jack Fitzwater return to the first team against Aberdeen in midweek, but Keaghan Jacobs and Alan Lithgo remain out long term.

Previous Meetings

There’s been goals galore in this fixture over recent times, and often shared out.

After going behind to Jason Holt’s penalty, Celtic won the first fixture this season 3-2 with goals from Callum McGregor, Albian Ajeti and Ryan Christie.

Last season saw ten goals between the teams’ three fixtures. A 2-2 draw, a 4-0 win for Celtic and a 2-0 win for Livingston at the Tony Macaroni when Christie was sent off was also the Lions’ last win over the Hoops.

Bookmakers’ odds

Celtic 7/10 (Betvictor) Draw 16/5 (Skybet, William Hill) Livingston 9/2 (Skybet)

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