Rangers v Celtic: Scottish Premiership – live

Those pointing out a minor typo might like to know that cricket features the “cut shot”. Yes, I really have done it.

I wonder if, though Maeda will be on the left, Kyogo will also be looking to attack the space in behind Tavernier. Philippe Clement knows that his skipper will have to defend, but will presumably have a plan for getting him into the game going forward; I sense a taxing afternoon for Scott Wright, stationed ahead of him.

Four red cards, says you? Everything that no one wants to see, says I.

The classic Old Firm game?

Celtic, meanwhile, will look to keep the ball and get their quick passing going, pulling the Rangers centre-backs out of position by dropping off with the wide attackers looking to get into the box and midfielders running past the false nine.

Where is the game? My guess is that Rangers look to keep things tight – they’ll want their midfield three to sit down the space in front of the back four where Kyogo like to operate. They’ll be looking to double-up when attacking down the right, and to try and get crosses into the box with the top of creating confusion.

On Sky, Chris Sutton has just interviewed Henrik Larsson, but on that topic I recommend this:

As for Celtic, Brendan Rodgers is back on the bench after his touchline ban for criticising a ref – the same ref who takes charge of today’s game – which I’d have considered extending it for the way he spoke to a reporter. He names an unchanged side with skipper Callum McGregor only fit enough for the bench.

So what does it all mean? Well Rangers make two changes, Dujon Sterling in for Borna Barisic at left-back and Tom Lawrence replacing Todd Cantwell in midfield. Those look defensive-ish changes to me, but we shall see.

Rangers (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Sterling; Diomande, Lundstram; Wright, Lawrence, Silva; Dessers. Subs: McCrorie, Cantwell, Matondo, Sima, Dowell, Balogun, Barisic, King, McCausland.

Celtic: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; O’Riley, Iwata, Hatate; Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda. Subs: Bain, Idah, Yang, Nawrocki, Bernardo, McGregor, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh.

Football is a global phenomenon, its unique light enveloping the planet as disparate peoples come together, transfixed by the hypnotic beauty of the beautiful game. Aye right, and then there’s Rangers v Celtic.

Because for all the patter – touching stories from here and social commentary from there – some things cant be intellectualised and sentimentalised, not even by the Guardian, and when it comes down to it, the Old Firm rammy stands alone.

But even in that context, today’s match is special, a howling, screeching, whirling Glesga of a match. Celtic, going for a third straight title and a 12th out of 13, lead the table by a point and will consider themselves favourites. But Rangers have a game in hand, home advantage, and the confidence that they are well-placed in the closes race for years – one many thought would already be over.

Which is is to say the teams arrive at Ibrox Stadium under all sorts of pressure and managing all sorts of expectations, the madness of the world transmogrified via the medium of interpretive soccer. This is going to be intense.

Kick-off: 12pm BST