Celtic continued their impressive League Cup campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Brendan Rodgers’ side took an early lead through captain Callum McGregor, who found the net in the 12th minute. Despite their dominance in the first half, the Hoops failed to extend their lead, and Kilmarnock leveled the score just after the restart.
The visitors briefly threatened to take the lead, but their attacking approach left gaps at the back, which Celtic exploited.
Daizen Maeda restored the home side’s advantage in the 70th minute, coolly finishing a Nicolas Kuhn cross. Celtic held firm to secure their place in the competition’s next round, maintaining Rodgers’ unbeaten record in the League Cup.
Meanwhile, Rangers made light work of Highland League side Fraserburgh in a 5-0 demolition at Ibrox.
Cyriel Dessers stole the spotlight with a hat-trick, answering speculation about his future with a clinical display. Clinton Nsiala and Ross McCausland added to the tally in a commanding performance.
Both Glasgow giants will now shift their focus to European commitments. Celtic face a crucial Champions League clash against Swiss side Young Boys on Wednesday, while Rangers prepare for an all-British showdown against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
On to the news on ground:
Celtic continue to march ahead and prove why they are the dominant force in Scotland.
Last month, Celtic scored five first-half goals against Ross County, only a week after scoring four second-half goals against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Before a ball was kicked this season, you were told that a title challenge was supposed to come from Rangers, but fast forward to the present, and you wouldn’t even be able to see Philippe Clement’s side even if you put your binoculars on.
The champions are 11 points clear of Rangers in the table and it’s not even Christmas yet.
Aberdeen are the only ones testing Celtic, yet they are now four points behind after playing a game extra following their 1-1 draw at Hearts.
All of this, whilst Brendan Rodgers juggles Champions League football, which is going rather well as a top-eight finish is still on the cards.
Yet, if you listened to a certain Graeme Souness with his blue-tinted glasses on, he previously claimed in August on talkSPORT about the two Glasgow clubs, ‘Now, I don’t think there is such a big gap. I really don’t’.
But as ever, Martin O’Neill was on hand to drop some more truth bombs on the former midfielder following the latest set of results.
Martin O’Neill says Celtic and Rangers gap will widen:
When Celtic struggled away at Hearts last week, they walked away with a 4-1 win, for Rangers, it’s a 1-0 win at St Johnstone, with an own goal being the difference.
Even when the Bhoys are half at it, they are still miles ahead of the rest and Rangers are in that boat with everyone else in the league.
O’Neill made it clear on talkSPORT (02/12/24 at 12:25 pm) that Rangers are simply ‘not good enough’ to challenge the champions who are ‘so dominant’.
The legendary manager mentioned his ‘argument’ with Souness, and his previous take on the gap, before putting him in his place and reminding him again that the gap is indeed ‘massive’.
“I don’t think he (Rodgers) has to worry too much because Rangers are so poor,” said O’Neill. “I have been saying this for some quite considerable weeks now. They aren’t a good enough side to challenge Celtic over a whole season.
“I had this argument with Graeme Souness some weeks ago that ‘there isn’t a big gap between them’, there is a massive gap between them. On any given Saturday and any given day, Rangers might pose a threat to Celtic for a match, but over a whole season, especially in league terms, not good enough.
“There is no challenge from Rangers there, at this minute. Aberdeen have done exceptionally well, so far, but you aren’t expecting Aberdeen to keep it going throughout the whole season. They have done really well again. If Celtic are thinking Aberdeen are their main challengers, then as you (Jim White) mentioned at the top of your question to me. Complacency? I don’t think Celtic will be complacent. I watched them against Brugge, the other evening, expectations had been high because they had been splendid against Leipzig. They didn’t play so well in the first half and much, much better in the second half. Eight points from five games. Going strongly in the Champions League and even stronger in the SPL.
“It could be wider (the points gap by the end of the season) because Celtic are so dominant. Very, very strong. You just expect Celtic to win the games. You mentioned that ‘Rangers got over the line against St Johnstone’. That is no real surprise to me. You don’t feel that Rangers are capable of going away from home and winning convincingly in matches.
Celtic’s fixture list before Ibrox showdown
Celtic didn’t even get out of first gear for the first Glasgow derby win of the season and now they have two fixtures in the space of a few weeks.
It’s the small matter of the League Cup final on December 15, with a trip to Croatia to take on Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League only days earlier.
In the middle of all that, there are some crucial Premiership matches, including Celtic’s clash against Young Boys on Tuesday night.
If Rodgers gets this right, then a League Cup trophy, knockout Champions League football and a double-point lead could be on the cards by the time January comes to an end.
