Celtic vs St. Mirren
Back confident St. Mirren to trouble Celtic's defence
Celtic get their Scottish Premiership title defence underway with a winnable-looking home game against St. Mirren. Although they’ve retained the core of the squad, which was successful last season, some Celtic fans have bemoaned the lack of high-profile signings at Parkhead this summer. Of the new additions, Benjamin Nygren, signed from Nordsjaelland, is likely to start alongside Reo Hatate in the centre of the park.
Last season, Celtic won the title and dropped points in just three home matches, one of which came against Sunday’s opponents. They will be determined to put their Scottish Cup disappointment behind them, although their enterprising performances in pre-season suggest that they are ready to hit the ground running.
As the odds-on favourites, Brendan Rodgers’ side are expected to easily collect maximum points here, but St. Mirren might not make it easy for them.
The Saints ended last season positively, finishing inside the top six and putting together a run of six games unbeaten. They suffered just a single defeat in their final nine, which included a 1-1 draw at this venue. Stephen Robinson’s side have looked sharp in the Scottish Cup, with Mikael Mandron and Killian Phillips being the standout performers.
They tend to give Celtic a run for their money and usually find a way through. Those end-of-season performances, coupled with their cup displays, suggest that they can get on the scoresheet in this seasonal opener.
Jack’s football journey began in the early 2000s at Bloomfield Road, sparking a lifelong passion for the EFL and beyond. With over a decade of writing and tipping experience, he delivers sharp insights and value-driven betting advice across football, darts, tennis, and horse racing.
When he’s not analysing stats, Jack is on commentary duty for Stoke City and occasionally heard at Owlerton Greyhound Stadium. Based in Leeds, he’s as reliable with a brew as he is with a bet.