Scottish Premiership previews, team news, stats, kick-off times, live on Sky
Watch Hearts vs Rangers live on Sky Sports Football from 11am on Sunday; kick-off 12pm
Saturday 11 December 2021 19:05, UK
Team news, stats and predictions for the latest round of the Scottish Premiership, as Hearts host Rangers on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Hearts vs Rangers - Sunday, 12pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports Football
Team news
Hearts duo Liam Boyce and Michael Smith have recovered from knocks ahead of the visit of Rangers in the cinch Premiership on Sunday.
Midfielder Beni Baningime remains out with a knee injury.
However, boss Robbie Neilson hopes to have him back before the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian in the new year.
Rangers' Ryan Jack has been ruled out of the trip to Gorgie.
The Gers midfielder, who recently returned from a long-term calf problem, sustained another injury in training which is still to be diagnosed.
Striker Kemar Roofe is a doubt and will be assessed, while Leon Balogun (knock), Filip Helander (knee) and Nnamdi Ofoborh (heart issue) are still sidelined.
Opta stats
- This will be Hearts' first home league match against Rangers since a 2-1 win in January 2020 under Daniel Stendel.
- Rangers have only lost one of their last 13 Scottish Premiership games against Hearts, winning nine and drawing three.
- Hearts remain unbeaten at home in this season's Scottish Premiership (P8 W5 D3), with only Celtic (20) earning more points on home soil in this season's competition than the Jam Tarts (18).
- Rangers have won each of their last five league games, including all three under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Indeed, away from home, the Gers have won their last seven in the Scottish Premiership since losing their first league match on the road this season 1-0 at Dundee United.
- Rangers have recovered a league-high 16 points from losing positions in this season's Scottish Premiership, winning five of the seven such matches in which they have fallen behind (D1 L1).
How to follow
Watch Hearts vs Rangers live on Sky Sports Football from Free match highlights will be published on the Sky Sports website, app and YouTube channel later that evening.
Celtic vs Motherwell - Sunday, 3pm kick-off
Team news
Celtic face a striker shortage after Kyogo Furuhashi and Albian Ajeti suffered hamstring injuries against Real Betis on Thursday.
Giorgos Giakoumakis faces another week or two on the sidelines following minor knee surgery. Jota is also out with a hamstring problem and fellow winger James Forrest also missed the Betis game.
Anthony Ralston has missed two games with a strain while long-term absentees Christopher Jullien (knee) and Karamoko Dembele (ankle) remain out.
Motherwell have their own problems, with manager Graham Alexander admitting they would be a "little bit bare" for Sunday's clash after picking up some fitness issues at Easter Road last weekend.
Alexander has issues in central defence, with Ricki Lamie going off against Hibernian and Sondre Solholm Johansen and Juhani Ojala already out. Mark O'Hara has been missing from Motherwell's midfield but Barry Maguire returns from suspension.
Opta stats
- Celtic have won each of their last nine league matches against Motherwell, scoring two or more goals each time since a 1-1 draw in December 2018.
- Motherwell have lost each of their last nine league visits to Celtic since a 2-1 win in December 2015 under Mark McGhee. They have conceded 30 goals and scored just three in this spell.
- Celtic have won eight of their last nine league games (D1), including each of their last four in a row. As well as this, the Hoops have picked up more home points in this season's Scottish Premiership than any other side (20).
- Motherwell have lost just one of their last five league games (W3 D1), this after having lost four of their previous five before this (D1).
- Scottish Premiership top scorer Tony Watt's nine league goals this season have earned Motherwell 11 points, the most of any player for their club in their season's competition. Watt scored seven goals in 25 league appearances for Celtic, but has never scored against his former side in seven league matches against them.
How to follow
Free match highlights will be published on the Sky Sports website, app and YouTube channel later that evening.
