Tuesday 6 September 2016 08:50, UK
Charlie Nicholas believes Celtic's pace in attack could tilt Saturday's Glasgow derby against Rangers in their favour.
Brendan Rodgers' side go into the game, live on Sky Sports, a point clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership, having played a game less.
Celtic have won all three of their domestic fixtures these season, scoring 10 goals in the process, and they have also notched 11 times in four Champions League qualifiers.
Nicholas - who had two spells as a player at Parkhead - believes his former club's quick forwards will give them the edge against a visiting defence bolstered by the transfer deadline day signing of 31-year-old Philippe Senderos.
"Rangers don't really have pace at the back," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "Celtic have pace up front, they have (Scott) Sinclair, (Leigh) Griffiths and (Moussa) Dembele, who are all quick players.
"These are the intriguing things of the game that I'm looking forward to seeing.
"I fully expect Senderos to play but Mark Warburton will really have to think about Celtic's pace and Rangers' lack of pace at the back, and that's why I think Celtic have a slight advantage.
"Could he possibly go to a back three? When you play in these games you can't hear people from two or three yards away and it seems like you're playing by yourself.
"This is the big decision Warburton has to make and I think they have got issues. I think they will have to chop and change a lot more than they want to."
Nicholas feels Rangers may look to employ a three-man defence against Celtic because Rodgers could attempt to attack their attack-minded full-backs in wide areas as part of his tactical strategy for the game.
"Brendan (Rodgers) has got more options than most managers that have been here in the past," he said. "There's a bit more confusion but the options are more delightful than unpleasant.
"He is very good at seeing things and making tactical substitutions.
"I think Griffiths has to start. He will want to stretch Rangers' full-backs because they like to get forward and if you can get them on the back foot that plays into Celtic's hands.
"Celtic have got better options, for me, and Brendan could throw a bit of a surprise."
