Watch Aberdeen vs Rangers live on Sky Sports Football on Tuesday as the cinch Premiership returns; Sky Sports is the only broadcaster to offer live coverage of the top flight, with up to 48 games available on the home of Scottish football, plus free highlights on our website and app
Tuesday 18 January 2022 13:33, UK
Following an earlier than planned winter break, the Scottish Premiership is back with plenty at stake for all 12 clubs.
Following Celtic's 2-0 win over Hibs, there are five games on Tuesday, including Aberdeen vs Rangers - live on Sky Sports.
With the season resuming, we've analysed some of the major talking points and discuss if Rangers can hold off Celtic to retain the title, who could come out on top in the race for third and fourth, how the relegation battle will go, which January signings to look out for, and much more.
Leaders Rangers went into the first round of matches following the break with a six-point advantage over Celtic in the Scottish Premiership but the destination of this season's title is far from decided.
The sides meet at Celtic Park on February 2, live on Sky Sports, with another two meetings on the horizon. It is these battles that are likely to determine which half of the Old Firm will lift the trophy in May.
Since Giovanni van Bronckhorst's arrival at Rangers in November, the club have won all seven league matches under the Dutchman.
A tweak to the 4-3-3 formation used by his predecessor Steven Gerrard - with full-backs more controlled in attack, wingers asked to stay wide and more attacking licence given to the midfield - has also helped transform the form of key players.
Borna Barisic has rediscovered his form that helped Rangers win the title last season, Alfredo Morelos is more threatening in front of goal, Scott Arfield is featuring more regularly and scored key goals, plus players including Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey are continuing to impress.
Across the city, Ange Postecoglou has rebuilt a Celtic squad that failed to win a historic 10th consecutive title last season and transformed them into serious challengers.
A high-press when out of possession, quick transitions into attack when with the ball and an entertaining style of play has excited the Celtic supporters.
That transformation on the pitch sees Postecoglou's side rank above most of their rivals around goals conceded and shots on goal, plus above most sides in Europe's top leagues for the average number of passes per match.
Both teams have little, if any, margin for error over the coming 18 matches.
The pride of coming out on top will be more than enough for the fans, but this season's Premiership title comes with an even bigger prize. A place in the Champions League is all but guaranteed. With that comes a cash injection of £30m and rising.
Just nine points separate third to sixth, with Dundee United only two points further back as clubs battle for the other European spots.
Hearts are currently in pole position after an impressive return to the top flight. Robbie Neilson's side were top of the table after 10 matches - largely thanks to some outstanding performances from Craig Gordon, John Souttar, Cameron Devlin, Beni Baningime and Liam Boyce to name a few.
On top of that, some shrewd summer signings will mean any of their rivals will find it tough to dislodge them from third.
One club hoping to do just that however are Motherwell. Graham Alexander has signed a new contract at Fir Park after one year in the job. An eighth-placed finish last time around gave him time to settle into the job but the 'Well fans will be demanding a top-half finish at least after an impressive start to this season.
The club's transformation under the former Scotland international is clear to see on the pitch but also perhaps in Alexander's trophy cabinet. He is the first boss outside of Celtic and Rangers to win three Premiership manager of the month awards in a calendar year, with only Neil Lennon, Steven Gerrard, Alex McLeish, Brendan Rodgers and Gordon Strachan to do likewise.
While it is Alexander's 10th season as a manager, Hibs boss Shaun Maloney is yet to experience a full month in the dugout. He left his role as assistant to Roberto Martinez at Belgium to take up the top job at Easter Road and made it two wins from two before the break.
Despite defeat at Celtic after the break, those results have moved Hibs into fifth and created a renewed sense of optimism in the green half of Edinburgh.
Stephen Glass' Aberdeen - like Hibs - would have gone into the season with a hope of finishing third. A run of just two wins in 13 league games saw the Dons drop into ninth at one stage, however, a run of wins before the break has given the Pittodrie faithful hope they could still clinch European football next season.
While some key players have been linked with moves away from Aberdeen in the January window, Glass will be hopeful of replacing any potential departures and adding to his impressive summer additions which included Scott Brown and Christian Ramirez.
In stark contrast to that optimism at Easter Road and Pittodrie will be the disappointment at Tannadice Park that saw Dundee United fall from third to seventh. Five consecutive defeats before the winter break may be cause for concern among some fans but the club's impressive start to the season under another new manager, Thomas Courts.
Taking four points from their initial ties with Rangers and Celtic in August and September, plus an unbeaten run of seven games, should serve as a reminder that United could still challenge in the bid to seal European football next season.
St Johnstone find themselves in the unenviable position of being bottom - a surprise to many after winning a historic League Cup and Scottish Cup double last season.
This season, manager Callum Davidson has watched his side lose 12 league games, including seven on the bounce, with their last win coming back in October.
Davidson has moved early in the transfer window to try and solve his team's problems in front of goal too with St Johnstone having scored just 11 goals in 20 matches so far this season.
Dundee - who only returned to the Premiership this season - are just two points above the Saints and will need their experienced players like captain Charlie Adam and Paul McGowan to help avoid an instant return to the Championship.
Ross County took until October to get a first league win of the season after overcoming Covid-19 issues and an overhaul to their squad and find themselves just clear of the relegation spots.
A new-look XI and change in formation took time to settle but it is clear the Staggies are finding their feet under Malky Mackay following his summer arrival.
It remains to be seen if they can stay clear of the bottom two - something Livingston and St Mirren will also be hoping for when the action gets back underway.
Thankfully, yes. Scottish Premiership fans were able to return to matches following the winter break, with restrictions on large outdoor events in the country now lifted.
The Scottish government announced a maximum of 500 people could attend games from Boxing Day for up to three weeks, in a bid to help slow down the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid.
That decision resulted in the SPFL board voting to bring forward the winter break after December 26, meaning ties on December 29 and January 2/3 were rescheduled.
Vaccine certificate checks will remain in place across Scotland and now those who had their second dose over four months ago will need a booster to be 'fully vaccinated'.
Sky Sports will broadcast the Premiership play-off final and there are a number of clubs who could be involved come May.
Part-timers Arbroath are one of five teams in the mix to gain promotion from the Championship after a remarkable rise under Dick Campbell.
He took charge at Gayfield in 2016 with the club second-bottom of the fourth tier. Six years and two promotions later they are on course to complete a remarkable journey to the top.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who last featured in the top flight in 2017, are also in the mix under ex-Scotland striker Billy Dodds.
Kilmarnock were relegated last season but with Derek McInnes now in charge will be hoping for an immediate return to the Premiership, as will Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle who also make up the top five.
What happens over the coming months may hinge on the coming weeks and the climax of the January transfer window.
All 12 clubs have added to their squads as we countdown to deadline day with Hibernian the busiest so far. Rocky Bushiri, Ewan Henderson, Harry Clarke and Elias Melkersen have all joined in addition to Chris Mueller, who had agreed a pre-contract last year.
Henderson was highly rated among Celtic fans and could be a key player for Hibs, as could Clarke who impressed at Ross County where he scored three goals and added two assists during the first half of the season.
There has been plenty of focus on Celtic's trio of January arrivals from the J-League. Well, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate didn't fail to impress against Hibs. Maeda scored less than four minutes into his Celtic debut while Hatate was named man-of-the-match. Celtic fans also got to see late substitute Yosuke Ideguchi in action and will be delighted by what they've seen so far from all three players.
St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson conceded a major overhaul was needed if they are to have a chance of survival and he has not wasted any time.
Former Dundee United and Celtic striker Nadir Ciftci is one of three arrivals so far at McDiarmid Park, joining from Turkey. It's a risk but if he finds the form which saw him score 33 times in 82 appearances for the Tannadice Park side, then it will be a shrewd signing until the end of the season.
Rangers have added versatile US international youngster James Sands on an 18-month loan from MLS side New York City, with the option to buy at the end of the season.
The champions have also signed Hearts' John Souttar on a pre-contract and may make further moves to strengthen their squad with Cedric Itten also back from his loan in the Bundesliga for the run-in.
Talking of pre-contracts, after agreeing a move from Motherwell to Dundee United in the summer, the Premiership's top scorer Tony Watt has joined the Tannadice Park club in this window.
Watt signed a deal until 2025 after the two clubs agreed a fee for the striker to move now.
Jay Chapman, Declan Drysdale, Dante Polvara, Liam Shaw, Carljohan Eriksson, Nathaniel Atkinson, Morgan Boyes and Caleb Chukwuemeka will feature once the top flight resumes, but it remains to be seen if the likes of Calvin Ramsay and Ryan Hedges will be there come midnight on January 31.
What we do know is when the action gets back underway, we're in for a treat.
Individual accolades are also up for grabs over the coming months with Motherwell's Tony Watt leading the race for the golden boot. With uncertainty surrounding his future, summer arrivals Kyogo and Christian Ramirez will fancy their chances, as will Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos, Liam Boyce, Kevin van Veen and Martin Boyle.
Helping set up those chances bring their own pride and Rangers captain James Tavenier already has more assists after 20 matches than he did at the end of last season. Several players are chasing the right-back but have their work cut out if they're to catch him.
Keeping the ball out of the net is often celebrated as much as a goal and Celtic's summer signing Joe Hart leads the way in the race for the golden glove. The ex-England shot-stopper is just ahead of Gordon at Hearts who is an early contender for player of the season.
Further dates, kick-off times and television details to be confirmed - all fixtures subject to change.
Tuesday January 18
Aberdeen v Rangers - Kick-off 7.45pm
Wednesday January 26
Hearts vs Celtic - Kick-off 7.45pm
Saturday January 29
Ross County vs Rangers - Kick-off 12.30pm
Tuesday February 1
Hibernian v Hearts - Kick-off 7.45pm
Wednesday February 2
Celtic v Rangers - Kick-off 7.45pm
Sunday February 6
Motherwell vs Celtic - Kick-off 1.30pm
Sunday February 6
Rangers vs Hearts - Kick-off 4pm
Sunday February 20
Dundee United vs Rangers - Kick-off 12pm
Sunday February 27
Hibernian vs Celtic - Kick-off 12pm
Sunday April 3
Rangers vs Celtic - Kick-off 12pm
Following an eventful and unpredictable start to the Scottish Premiership season, Kris Boyd and Andy Walker have picked their teams of the campaign so far.
Just two players from the top two feature in Walker's XI, while Boyd has selected three from either half of the Old Firm.
The pair agreed on just four selections and also went for different formations - with players from Dundee United, Hearts, Hibernian, Motherwell and Ross County also selected.
Click here to see who they selected.
