Celtic will be bidding to avoid a 29-year low against Rangers next week

Another grim statistic will added to Celtic’s dismal league campaign if they are unable to avoid defeat against newly-crowned champions Rangers when the pair meet for the third time this season in Glasgow’s east end a week on Sunday.

Rangers' Connor Goldson (left) sees his effort blocked by Celtic's Shane Duffy prior to scoring his club's second in the win last October that was their second straight derby success at the home of their rivals . (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Steven Gerrard’s men have won on their past two visits to the home of their bitter rivals - a 2-0 win in October 17 in the clubs’ opening meeting this season following on from a 2-1 success when they last faced-up in the Covid-19 abridged 2019-20 campaign on December 28 2019.

No Celtic team has succumbed to three straight home derby losses since Liam Brady’s men did so at Parkhead between 1991 and 1992. Then Walter Smith’s side won at the venue 2-0 on August 31, 1991, 3-1 on New Year’s Day 1992, and 1-0 on November 7, 1992.

With the title gone, Celtic’s motivation to put one over on Rangers is also sure to centre around the quest by Gerrard’s men to remain undefeated in the league across the entire season. This has only happened once since the 1800s. It was achieved by Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in 2016-17.

That team acquired the label of ‘invincibles’ because 34 wins and four draws from the 38-game league programme formed the basis of the only unbeaten treble campaign in Scottish football history. Rangers’ exit to St Mirren in the League Cup last December means they cannot replicate this feat, but, as it stands, they can match Rodgers’ team for their Scottish top flight record points total of 106.

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