July 4, 2024

Livingston vs Celtic team news confirmed as Brendan Rodgers hands James Forrest first start of season

Rodgers has made one change from the defeat to Feyenoord in midweek

Celtic’s first-day Champions League setback to Feyenoord has settled, and Brendan Rodgers and his team are back to business in the league.

This afternoon’s opponents are Livingston, and the Tony Macaroni Arena has not always been a happy hunting ground for Treble winners. They’ve only won twice in their last seven encounters with the Lions in West Lothian, and the plastic field, which Rodgers has already warned his players about, as well as the physicality of David Martindale’s side, could be a problem.

Celtic’s last astroturf match was against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, where they were knocked out of the Viaplay Cup following an atrocious effort. But if the Parkhead giants want to open up a seven-point lead over Rangers before facing Motherwell tomorrow, they’ll have to step up and defeat a Livi team that is no pushover.

Here’s how both teams line-up in West Lothian this lunchtime, as Rodgers hands winger James Forrest a rare start in place of Luis Palma.

George, Obileye, Pittman, Anderson, Brandon, Holt, Nouble, Sangare, Shinnie, De Lucas, and Penrice make up the Livingston XI.

Subs: Hamilton, Parkes, Kelly, MacKay, Bradley, Kelly, Lloyd, Guthrie, Lawal

Celtic starting eleven: Hart, Johnston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley, Forrest, Maeda, Kyogo.

Bain, Palma, Yang, Turnbull, Holm, Oh, Iwata, Bernardo, Ralston are the substitutes.

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