Dundee United vs Celtic: Team news, predictions, key men and latest Scottish Premiership odds

Celtic head to Tannadice this weekend to face Dundee United knowing a point is all that will be required to secure a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title on Saturday (kick-off: 12.30pm).

Having destroyed both Kilmarnock and St Johnstone over the last fortnight, confidence is high in the Celtic camp, with Brendan Rodgers’ side on the verge of an astonishing sixth domestic treble in the last nine years.

The home side have designs of their own though, and will be looking to halt the Celtic title party and boost their own European aspirations in the process. Can they stop the Glasgow giants title party in it’s tracks? They’re in good form of late, and will fancy their chances of doing so.

Ahead of the game, we look through each team’s recent form, and give our predictions for the game based on the form of both sides:

Sam Dalby has fired Dundee United into the European reckoning. | SNS Group

Dundee United Recent Form

Jim Goodwin’s side have enjoyed an excellent return to the top flight after last year’s Scottish Championship win, securing a top six spot in recent weeks. The Tannadice outfit responded superbly to their 4-2 Dundee derby defeat last month and are on excellent form, having won their last three league games without conceding a single goal.

Prior to the split, a narrow 1-0 win over St Johnstone ensured they entered the final quarter of the season in fourth place, but they’ll be hoping they can shock Celtic this weekend and edge closer to a spot in Europe next season ahead of fifth-placed Aberdeen.

Celtic Recent Form

After a run of three defeats in seven games, the Hoops have roared back in recent weeks, hammering in 10 goals in their last two games. With the 5-0 thrashing of St Johnstone in last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final fresh on the back of their 5-1 win over Kilmarnock in the league a fortnight ago, the champions are in scintillating form heading into the final few weeks of the campaign.

Dundee United v Celtic Team News

The home side confirmed that experienced duo Louis Moult and Declan Gallagher would not have their contracts renewed at the end of the current campaign earlier in the week, though both are expected to play a part in Saturday’s game. Midfielder David Babunski is pushing for a return to the starting XI after coming off the bench vs St Johnstone, while Sam Dalby is fit to start despite being forced off against the Perthshire outfit with a tight hamstring.

Celtic will be without goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder) and Yang Hyun-Jun (elbow) due to injury, while Jota and Nicolas Kuhn are both hoping to be included in the starting XI after making an impact from the bench in last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final win at Hampen Park.

Dundee United Player to Watch: Sam Dalby

The on loan striker has been a revelation for Dundee United this season, scoring 14 goals in 30 games following his arrival from Wrexham in the summer. Expected to start despite a slight hamstring knock in the last game, Dalby will be the man Celtic must keep an eye on if they are to secure the win they want this weekend.

Celtic Player to Watch: Daizen Maeda

Who else? The Japanese forward is almost undoubtedly the leading favourite to be named as the Scottish Premiership player of the season, with the 27-year-old refusing to slow down his impeccable form all season. His two goals in last weekend’s Scottish Cup hammering of St Johnstone put the team on course for yet another domestic treble.

Dundee United vs Celtic predictions

One of the few sides to have taken points from Celtic this season, Dundee United are certainly no pushovers and have enjoyed an excellent return to the Scottish Premiership this season. Prior to the split, head coach Goodwin admitted his side had struggled against Celtic in their last two games at Celtic Park, so will want to set a precedent this weekend as he targets European qualification.

That said, I think Celtic will be too strong. It took them 30 minutes to get going last weekend, but once they did, Rodgers’ side were unstoppable. The defeat to St Johnstone earlier this month appears to have done nothing but anger them, in a case of ‘don’t poke the bear’. They only need a point, but we are backing them to take all three.

Prediction: Dundee United 1-4 Celtic.

Dundee United v Celtic odds

With odds of 1/4, Celtic are favourites to win game, with Dundee United priced at 9/1 to inflict defeat on the champions. Fancy a draw at Tannadice? A draw comes in at a price of 19/4.*

*All odds are offered by SkyBet and are subject to change at any time. Please gamble responsibly.