Friday 25 January 2019 12:21, UK
Sky Sports Scotland commentary team Ian Crocker and Andy Walker take a look at the weekend's Scottish Premiership fixtures
Aberdeen v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm
Referee: Nick Walsh
Opta Stats
Aberdeen have won 17 of their last 19 Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock (D1 L1).
Kilmarnock are looking to win consecutive away top-flight matches against Aberdeen for the first time since August 2010.
Aberdeen have not lost back-to-back home Scottish Premiership games since December 2017.
Kilmarnock have won three consecutive league games and could win four on the bounce for the second time this season having last done so in October 2018.
Excluding own goals, Aberdeen have had 16 different players score a league goal for them this season, the most in the Scottish Premiership.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Aberdeen 1-1 Kilmarnock
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Greg Stewart: Surely he's bound to have a say!
Alan Power: Started every game this season and given his all in each.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Aberdeen 1-0 Kilmarnock
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Sam Cosgrove: Saw him destroy Hamilton in midweek, on a tremendous run of goalscoring form.
Gary Dicker: Such an important player for Steve Clarke in Kilmarnock's midfield.
Celtic v Hamilton - Saturday 3pm
Referee: Alan Muir
Opta Stats
Celtic have won their last eight league matches against Hamilton, a run stretching back to December 2016.
Hamilton have lost their last six Scottish Premiership trips to Celtic Park against Celtic, scoring twice and conceding 19.
Celtic have never lost a home match in all competitions under Brendan Rodgers on Saturday (P32 W28 D4 L0), winning the last 12 in a row.
Hamilton have lost 14 of their last 17 away Scottish Premiership matches (W2 D1), losing their last three in a row by an aggregate score of 0-7.
Leigh Griffiths has been involved in 10 goals in his last 10 league matches against Hamilton for Celtic (9 goals, 1 assist).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Celtic 4-0 Hamilton
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
James Forrest: Every chance he could give Accies some serious problems.
Dougie Imrie: Still loving every minute of football by the look of it.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Celtic 5-0 Hamilton
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Oliver Burke: A double against St Mirren was promising, can he build on that?
Steven Boyd: Capable of scoring spectacular goals, Hamilton need more firepower.
Dundee v Motherwell - Saturday 3pm
Referee: William Collum
Opta Stats
Dundee have lost their last four Scottish Premiership matches against Motherwell, with all four matches coming during 2018.
Motherwell have won their last three away top-flight visits to Dundee, having won just three of their previous eight at Dens Park beforehand.
Dundee have taken just five points from 15 Scottish Premiership matches played on Saturday this season (W1 D2 L12).
Motherwell have won back-to-back league matches, last winning three in a row in October 2017 - when the third match in that run was away at Dundee.
Five of Dundee's last six home league goals have been scored by Kenny Miller.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Dundee 2-1 Motherwell
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Craig Curran: Jim McIntyre will know what he's getting with his former Ross County player.
Richard Tait: Another of the Premiership's highly consistent performers.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Dundee 1-1 Motherwell
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Genseric Kusunga: Came up with a vital goal at Tynecastle in midweek, is this the start of a new-look Dundee?
David Turnbull: The next Motherwell youngster who will go on to bigger things, a great habit of scoring goals.
Hearts v St Johnstone - Saturday 3pm
Referee: Craig Thomson
Opta Stats
Heart of Midlothian have won three and drawn two of their last five top-flight meetings with St Johnstone since a 1-0 defeat in May 2017.
St Johnstone have lost their last three Scottish Premiership visits to Tynecastle Park.
Hearts have lost three of their last five home league games (W2), as many as their previous 24 combined.
St Johnstone have taken more away Scottish Premiership points than any other side this season (21 - W7 D0 L3), winning their last six away league games in a row.
Only league leaders Celtic (12) have kept more clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership this season than St Johnstone (11), who have not conceded in any of their last three league games.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Hearts 2--1St Johnstone
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Steven Naismith: Things happen when he's about. A pivotal player.
Michael O'Halloran: Him and St Johnstone seem to go together well.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Hearts 0-0 St Johnstone
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Conor Shaughnessy: A great chance for the on loan Leeds man to show everyone what he can do.
Murray Davidson: Another unsung hero for a St Johnstone side climbing the table.
St Mirren v Hibernian - Live on Sky Sports Football Sunday 1.30pm
Referee: Steven McLean
Opta Stats
St. Mirren have won just two of their last 10 top-flight meetings with Hibernian (D3 L5).
Hibernian have won five of their last eight away Scottish Premiership matches against St. Mirren (D1 L2).
St. Mirren have lost each of their last five Scottish Premiership games played on Sunday.
Hibernian have lost back-to-back Scottish Premiership games; they haven't lost three in a row since April 2014 (six straight defeats).
Of Hibernian's last 14 league goals, 11 have come in the second half of their games; indeed only Aberdeen (21) and Celtic (20) have scored more second half goals in this season's Scottish Premiership than Hibs (19).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: St Mirren 0-2 Hibernian
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Ethan Erhahon: The 17-year-old has had a run in the team on merit.
Ryan Gauld: Might get the opportunity to remind Scotland what he's about.
Andy Walker's Prediction: St Mirren 1-3 Hibernian
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Mihai Popescu: A surprising loan signing from Dinamo Bucharest, St Mirren are desperate for better defensive displays.
Daryl Horgan: Gets himself into good positions to score but needs to convert a higher percentage.
Livingston v Rangers - Live on Sky Sports Football Sunday 4pm
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Opta Stats
Livingston have won just one of their last 14 top-flight matches against Rangers (D3 L10), but that came earlier this season at the Almondvale Stadium.
Rangers have only won one of their last five away top-flight visits to Livingston (D3 L1), a 4-1 win in November 2004.
Livingston are looking to avoid losing three consecutive top-flight matches within a single season for the first time since they lost their final four games of the 2005-06 campaign when they were relegated.
Rangers have won six of their last seven Scottish Premiership games (D1) on Sunday since losing 0-1 to Livingston in September 2018.
After scoring on his debut against Kilmarnock last time out, Jermain Defoe is looking to become the first Rangers player to score in both of his first two Scottish Premiership appearances for the club since Emerson Hyndman did so in January/February 2017 - who had also arrived at the club on loan from Premier League side Bournemouth.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Livingston 1-2 Rangers
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Dolly Menga: Has proved a handful for Rangers. Could he make his mark again?
Ryan Kent: Rangers might need something special to breach Livingston's sturdy defence.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Livingston 0-3 Rangers
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Gregg Wylde: Former Rangers man keen to do well again in Scottish Premiership.
Alfredo Morelos: Attracting interest from clubs in France, Rangers need his goals to keep their challenge strong at the top of the table.
