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Ian Crocker and Andy Walker's Scottish Premiership Predictor

Andy Walker & Ian Crocker take you though the weekend's Scottish Premiership fixtures.
Image: Andy Walker and Ian Crocker take you through the weekend's Scottish Premiership fixtures

After a midweek card of League Cup quarter-finals, the Scottish Premiership is back with a bang as the first Old Firm meeting of the season comes to Glasgow.

Both Rangers and Celtic booked their places at Hampden next month along with Motherwell and Hibernian.

Hearts will look to build on their unbeaten start under Craig Levein away to Partick Thistle, while Alan Archibald's men try to bounce back from their extra-time defeat to Rangers on Tuesday.

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Speaking to Tubes ahead of Celtic’s trip to Rangers on Saturday, Brenden Rodgers feels that the Old Firm derby is the most intense in world football

Dundee managed their first victory of the season last weekend and visit winless Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Hibs survived a scare at home to Championship side Livingston in their Betfred Cup last-eight tie on Tuesday. Neil Lennon's side travel to Dingwall to take on Ross County, who have not won in the Premiership since the opening fixture of the season.

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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes Rangers youngster Alfredo Morelos will display his temperament in this weekend's Old Firm derby

Tommy Wright's St Johnstone recorded their first loss of the league season at Dundee last week and host Hamilton Accies on Saturday, who have lost their last two.

Motherwell produced a fine display to overcome last year's finalists Aberdeen at Fir Park on Thursday night to progress to the League Cup semis. And it's a case of deja-vu this weekend when the sides meet again on Sunday.

Also See:

Rangers v Celtic - Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Football from 11.30m - Saturday

Andy Walker
Rangers 1-3 Celtic

Key Player - Scott Brown
Enjoying his best run of form in a Celtic jersey under Brendan Rodgers. Leadership and discipline so crucial in this unrivalled atmosphere.

Scott Brown celebrates Celtic's opening goal
Image: Scott Brown celebrates with his Celtic team-mates

Ian Crocker
Rangers 2-3 Celtic

Key Player - James Forrest
His 250th game for Celtic and he is flying with four goals in a week. Will he deliver in the biggest game of the lot?

James Forrest bagged a brace in the League Cup quarter-final win at Dens Park
Image: James Forrest scored twice in the League Cup quarter-final win at Dens Park

Opta Stats

Since winning promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, Rangers have picked up just one point from a possible 12 against Celtic (W0 D1 L3), conceding 13 and scoring just four.

The previous four league games between the two old firm clubs have seen a total of 17 goals scored with Celtic winning by an aggregate score line of 13-4.

Rangers' last league victory at home against Celtic came back in March 2012 (3-2) an encounter that included three red cards.

Celtic forward Moussa Dembele has scored five goals in his last five appearances against Rangers in all competitions.

No player has netted more goals in the Scottish Premiership this season than Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos (6).

Kilmarnock v Dundee - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Kilmarnock 1-1 Dundee

Key Player - Randy Wolters
The Dutchman started against Celtic in midweek and is starting to make an impact.

Dutch winger Randy Wolters in action for Dundee.
Image: Dutch winger Randy Wolters in action for Dundee

Ian Crocker
Kilmarnock 1-2 Dundee

Key Player - AJ Leitch-Smith
Two goals in a long-awaited first league win for Dundee last week. Looks like he has plenty to offer.

Dundee's A-Jay Leitch-Smith (centre) celebrates his goal.to make it 2-0 against St Johnstone last week.
Image: Dundee's A-Jay Leitch-Smith (centre) celebrates his goal.to make it 2-0 against St Johnstone last week

Opta Stats

Four of the last six league meetings between the two sides have ended in a draw (one win apiece).

Dundee have taken all three points from four of their last six league trips to Rugby Park (W4 D1 L1).

Kilmarnock have won just two of their previous 16 games in the Scottish Premiership (W2 D6 L8) and are one of two teams (alongside Patrick) that are still yet to register a league victory this season.

Dundee ended an eight-game winless run in the league last weekend with a home victory against St Johnstone (3-2). Their previous league victory came away to Kilmarnock (1-0) last season.

Ross County v Hibernian - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Ross County 1-2 Hibernian

Key Player - Danny Swanson
Capable of making a big impact for Neil Lennon's men.

Hibernian's Danny Swanson celebrates scoring his first goal for the club in the League Cup quarter-final win against Livingston.
Image: Hibernian's Danny Swanson celebrates scoring his first goal for the club in the League Cup quarter-final win against Livingston

Ian Crocker
Ross County 1-2 Hibernian

Key Player - Anthony Stokes
The goals just keep on coming now he's back in a Hibs shirt.

Anthony Stokes (right) put Hibs on their way at Easter Road
Image: Anthony Stokes has returned seven goals for Hibs in eight appearances in all competitions in 2017/18

Opta Stats-

This will be the first time the two sides have faced each other in the Scottish Premiership since May 2014. They have, however, met three times in all competitions since then, with both sides claiming one victory (D1).

In the last league meeting between Ross County and Hibernian, the Staggies recorded a 1-0 victory, having failed to win the previous three league meetings (D1 L2).

After finishing their 2016-17 campaign with an eight-game unbeaten run (W5 D3), Ross County are searching for their first league victory since the opening game of the season, conceding 12 goals in the process (P5 D1 L4).

Hibernian (nine points) have made their best start to a Scottish Premiership season after six games (W2 D3 L1), since the 2012-13 season, where they had accumulated 11 points (W3 D2 L1) at the same stage.

St Johnstone v Hamilton Accies - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
St Johnstone 2-0 Hamilton Accies

Key Player - Richard Foster
Experienced defender adding more quality to a St. Johnstone side who continue to impress.

Richard Foster (left) with Celtic's Scott Brown on Aug 26
Image: Richard Foster (left) has been issued with a notice of complaint by the Scottish FA Compliance Officer this week, but is available to face Hamilton Accies

Ian Crocker
St Johnstone 1-0 Hamilton Accies

Key Player - Michael O'Halloran
Making a difference on his return to Perth.

19/08/17;ST JOHNSTONE V PARTICK THISTLE (1-0). MCDIARMID PARK - PERTH. St Jonstone's Michael O'Halloran scores to put his side 1-0 in front
Image: St Johnstone's Michael O'Halloran scores one of his five goals since joining on-loan from Rangers until January

Opta Stats

Despite winning their last league match against St Johnstone (1-0), Hamilton have only won one of the last seven league meetings between the two sides.

St Johnstone have kept a clean sheet in four of their last six home league matches against Hamilton.

Hamilton Academical are winless in their last three league games (D1 L2).

St Johnstone's loanee Michael O'Halloran has managed five goals in his first seven appearances so far this campaign after failing to find the net in 24 competitive games last season for Rangers.

Partick Thistle v Hearts - Saturday 4pm

Andy Walker
Partick Thistle 0-2 Hearts

Key Player - Ross Callachan
Recent signing from Raith Rovers endearing himself to Hearts fans with his eye for goal.

Hearts' Ross Callachan (left) celebrates his goal at Hamilton with Jamie Walker
Image: Hearts' Ross Callachan (left) celebrates his goal at Hamilton with Jamie Walker

Ian Crocker
Partick Thistle 1-2 Hearts

Key Player - Isma Goncalves
Could prove a handful for Thistle.

Isma Goncalves' red card has been rescinded
Image: Isma Goncalves won Hearts' penalty for their first goal against Hamilton Accies last weekend

Opta Stats-

Partick Thistle are unbeaten against Hearts in their previous three meetings (W1 D2), however, on home soil they have only beaten Hearts once since 2004 in all competitions (P6 W1 D2 L3).

Despite drawing their last two games, Thistle are still searching for their first league win in 12 top-flight games (D3 L9), a run stretching back to April last season, conceding 30 goals in that period (2.5 goals per game).

Only Patrick Thistle and Kilmarnock are still yet to register a league victory in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Hearts are looking to secure back to back away victories in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since October 2015, after defeating Hamilton away last weekend.

Motherwell v Aberdeen- Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Motherwell 1-1 Aberdeen

Key Player - Ryan Bowman
Alongside Louis Moult, Bowman is part of a lively partnership making Motherwell a real threat.

Ryan Bowman (L) has four goals and three assists in 11 appearances for Motherwell this season.
Image: Ryan Bowman (L) has four goals and three assists in 11 appearances for Motherwell this season

Ian Crocker
Motherwell 1-1 Aberdeen

Key Player - Louis Moult
Motherwell did very well to hang on to him. He seems to be enjoying his stay!

Louis Moult celebrates after making it 2-1 at Easter Road
Image: Louis Moult celebrates one of his nine goals for Motherwell in all competitions so far this season

Opta Stats

Aberdeen have won their last four league meetings versus Motherwell, scoring 15 goals in total (3.8 per game).

Motherwell have won just one of their last 10 league games against Aberdeen (D1 L8), including three home defeats out of the last four.

Despite losing their first two games of the season, Motherwell are currently on a four-game unbeaten run (W3 D1) and have posted their highest points tally (10) after the opening six games since the 2013-14 campaign (12).

Motherwell's Louis Moult has scored five in his last four apps and is looking to score in his fifth consecutive league game.

Adam Rooney has netted 10 goals in his 10 Scottish Premiership appearances versus Motherwell for Aberdeen.

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