Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton have shared their thoughts on the upcoming 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, offering contrasting views on how Celtic and Rangers will fare.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, both former players tipped Celtic to retain their dominance, though they expressed some reservations about Rangers’ prospects in what they predict will be a challenging campaign.
Celtic legend Chris Sutton and Rangers icon Kris Boyd both foresee a strong season for the Hoops.
Boyd admitted that he has been “impressed” with Celtic’s early performances, while Sutton reiterated that Brendan Rodgers’ side remain “the team to beat.”
However, when it came to Rangers, Boyd hinted at difficulties ahead, describing the current campaign as a “tough season” for the Light Blues. Sutton, on the other hand, was critical of Rangers’ “messy” summer transfer window but stopped short of ruling out their chances entirely.
Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton’s Celtic predictions
Speaking on Celtic, Boyd, usually reluctant to praise his old rivals, said: “Even I’ve been impressed by the way Celtic have started the season, and that takes a lot for me to say that! I just get the feeling they’re going to have too much. The business they’ve done, they’re strong enough, and they will win the league by a good few points.”
Sutton, meanwhile, echoed Boyd’s sentiment: “They’ve started the domestic season really strongly and fast. Brendan is back in his second season, and I think it has been a smooth pre-season for Celtic. They’ll have to cope with the demands of Champions League football as well, hence why it was important to bring new players in.”
Sutton added, “Brendan’s strongest suit is coaching and developing players, so I think they’ll be happy with the work they’ve done in the window, and they’re still the team to beat.”
Both Boyd and Sutton seem to agree that Celtic’s squad depth, bolstered by a productive transfer window, will help them cope with the rigours of both domestic and European competitions. Despite the added challenge of Champions League football, they believe Rodgers has the squad to deliver another title for Celtic.
Boyd and Sutton’s Rangers predictions
Turning to Rangers, Boyd was candid about his concerns for the Ibrox side.
“I knew it was going to be a tough season, I didn’t think it would be as tough as this,” he admitted.
“I still think they’ll have more than the rest, but I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as it’s been over the last few years to get that second place. Once the season settles down a bit and players get up to match speed, they’ll be OK.”
He continued, “Once injuries start to hit the smaller teams, that’s when you see the bigger ones pull away. Rangers will have more than enough to finish second, but I don’t think they have enough to challenge Celtic.”
Sutton, however, was more focused on the long-term project at Rangers under new manager Philippe Clement:
“Philippe Clement says Rangers will get better, but they are still a work in progress. There’s been such an overhaul and a messy summer, and they’re going to take time to gel. Whether Clement gets the time remains to be seen.”
Sutton elaborated on the challenge ahead:
“He’ll want his team to be hanging on in there and just staying on Celtic’s coattails, but then, as the season progresses, look to really hit a rhythm and find his way past them. It is fairer to judge Clement this season rather than last season when he inherited a real mess. This season it’s his team, and there will be no excuses.”
Both pundits seem to agree that Rangers are likely to finish second behind Celtic, though they differ slightly on the extent of the challenge ahead. While Boyd foresees a difficult season for the Light Blues, Sutton believes that with time, Clement could turn things around.