Rangers vs Celtic: Old Firm Clash in Scottish League Cup Quarter-Finals

Rangers and Celtic meet at Ibrox on Sunday for the first Old Firm of the season, with a place in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals at stake and no margin for early-season hesitation.

Last year’s campaign in Scotland crackled from start to finish, a three-way title race that ended with Celtic pulling clear to complete a Premiership and Scottish Cup double. They finished as the ones holding the silverware. Rangers finished as the ones with the questions.

This summer, Rangers tried to change the script. Derek McInnes arrived from Hearts to reset the club’s direction, only to walk straight into a storm. A European exit piled pressure on the new manager almost before he had learned the route to the training ground. The noise around him grew quickly and loudly.

Now the mood is different. Four straight Premiership wins have steadied the ship and, for the first time since that early crash, McInnes walks into a major test with a little momentum at his back. Beat Celtic here and it’s not just a semi-final place on offer. It’s breathing space, belief, and a statement that Rangers are ready to stand toe-to-toe again.

On the other side, Celtic arrive with their own edge. Martin O’Neill’s side surrendered the League Cup last season in a shock defeat to St Mirren under Wilfried Nancy. That one stung. This competition is no afterthought for them; it’s a chance to reclaim a trophy they expect to own and to reinforce the dominance they reasserted last year.

The setting, though, will feel strange. The last time Rangers hosted Celtic, in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, the occasion descended into chaos. The fallout has led to a stark decision: no away fans at Ibrox this time. No Celtic end, no split of colour and noise. Just a Rangers crowd, one voice, and an Old Firm stripped back to something raw and partisan.

When and where

The Scottish League Cup quarter-final kicks off at Ibrox at 12pm BST on Sunday 13 September.

How to watch

The tie will be shown live on Premier Sports 1 and via the Premier Sports Player.

Team news

Rangers head into the game badly bruised by injuries in key areas. Captain Lawrence Shankland is out for months with a hamstring tear, a major blow for McInnes both on the pitch and in the dressing room. Striker Youssef Chermiti is also sidelined with a hamstring problem, leaving Rangers short of recognised firepower through the middle. New signing Daisuke Yokota joins them on the treatment table with the same issue, while left-back Tuur Rommens is edging closer to a return but will not be ready in time for Sunday.

Celtic’s fitness picture looks brighter. Record signing Kasper Hogh made his comeback in the 1-0 win at St Johnstone, offering O’Neill a timely attacking option. Kieran Tierney is nearing a return and could be back in time for the Old Firm, a potential emotional lift as much as a tactical one. O’Neill also shuffled his pack in midweek, handing a debut to goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in place of Viljami Sinisalo, and Cameron Carter-Vickers is expected to be available again after being left out entirely on Wednesday.

Rangers’ expected XI: Pandur; Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice; Raskin, Devlin; Curtis, Kim, Gassama; Naderi.

The stakes are clear. Celtic are chasing another trophy to reinforce their grip on the domestic game. Rangers are chasing a result that could redefine the early months of McInnes’ reign. In a silent stand where the away end should be, the question hangs: who seizes control of this season’s story?