Friday 1 February 2019 11:21, UK
Sky Sports Scotland commentary team Ian Crocker and Andy Walker take a look at the weekend's Scottish Premiership fixtures
Referee: Steven McLean
Opta Stats
Kilmarnock have lost two of their last three home league games against Hearts (W1), although they haven't lost back-to-back such matches against them in the top-flight since January 2011 (three straight defeats).
Hearts have won just one of their last five league meetings with Kilmarnock (D1 L3), a 1-0 win in August 2018.
Kilmarnock are currently enjoying a run of five straight home league wins - they have never previously won six in a row on home soil in the Scottish Premiership.
Hearts have won three of their last four league games (L1), as many as their previous 12 combined (W3 D2 L7).
Kilmarnock's Jordan Jones has scored three goals in his last four league games - he had only scored three across his last 43 Scottish Premiership appearances before this.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Kilmarnock 1-2 Hearts
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Jordan Jones: A man on a mission to end his time at Killie on a high.
John Souttar: Hearts will be happy to have their first-choice defensive partnership back.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Kilmarnock 1-1 Hearts
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Eamonn Brophy: More spotlight on him in the absence of Greg Stewart and the suspended Kris Boyd.
Arnold Djoum: A big influence for Hearts in the middle of the park.
Referee: Euan Anderson
Opta Stats
Hamilton have lost each of their last four league games against Dundee, this after having won each of the four beforehand.
Dundee have won back-to-back visits to Hamilton; they had won just one of their first six away games against them in the Scottish Premiership before this (D1 L4).
Since the beginning of 2018, Hamilton have lost 30 of their 40 league games (W7 D3), at least five more than any other side in the Scottish Premiership, with their opponents Dundee having lost 25 of 39 matches.
Dundee, who beat Hearts 2-1 in their last away league game, are aiming for back-to-back league victories on the road for the first time since January 2018.
Dundee's Craig Curran has scored six goals in his nine top-flight starts versus Hamilton, more than he has against any other club in the Scottish Premiership.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Hamilton 1-2 Dundee
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
James Keatings: Capable of providing a spark in a crucial contest.
Ryan McGowan: Just the sort of character Dundee need in the fight for survival.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Hamilton 0-1 Dundee
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Ziggy Gordon: One of many hoping for a strong reaction to Brian Rice taking over from Martin Canning.
Ryan McGowan: His type of experience and leadership are badly needed at Dundee.
Referee: Don Robertson
Opta Stats
Hibernian have managed only one win in their last 13 Scottish Premiership clashes with Aberdeen (D4 L8), a 2-0 triumph in February 2018.
Aberdeen have lost only one of their last 12 away league games against Hibernian (W6 D5), keeping seven clean sheets in those matches.
Hibs haven't lost back-to-back home Scottish Premiership fixtures since April 2014 - they lost 0-1 to Hearts in their last home league match in December 2018.
Aberdeen have won each of their last four away league games, last winning more in a row within the same top-flight campaign when they won their final five away matches of the 2016-17 season.
Gary Mackay-Steven has been directly involved in 10 goals in his 14 Scottish Premiership appearances against Hibernian (seven goals, three assists), including six in six for Aberdeen (five goals, one assist).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Hibernian 1-1 Aberdeen
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Daryl Horgan: Buzzes around making things happen for Hibs.
Sam Cosgrove: Proving to be a real handful and the goals have certainly come.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Hibernian 2-2 Aberdeen
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Florian Kamberi: Apparently central to the departure of Neil Lennon, will he react in a positive manner?
Greg Stewart: Brought in to make the difference in games like this
Referee: John Beaton
Opta Stats
Motherwell are unbeaten in their last six home games against Livingston in the Scottish Premiership (W4 D2) since a 5-1 defeat in October 2002.
Livingston's 2-0 win over Motherwell, the last time the two sides met, ended an eight-match winless streak against the Steelmen in the top-flight (D2 L6).
Motherwell have won three consecutive league matches; they last won more in succession in the Scottish Premiership in April 2016 (run of five).
Livingston have picked up just seven points from their last 66 available in away Scottish Premiership matches (P22 W1 D4).
David Turnbull has been directly involved in five of Motherwell's last eight league goals, scoring three and assisting two.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Motherwell 2-1 Livingston
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
David Turnbull: Seriously grasping the opportunity and has scored in the last 2 games.
Ryan Hardie: On loan Rangers striker brings something a bit different up for Livingston.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Motherwell 1-0 Livingston
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Elliot Frear: Did well to win a match-winning penalty against Dundee last weekend, has good skill.
Craig Halkett: Surprisingly let his usual high standard of play drop last weekend against Rangers, should get back to top form quickly.
Referee: Andrew Dallas
Opta Stats
Rangers have never previously lost at home to St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership (P11 W9 D2 L0).
St. Mirren have lost 11 of their last 13 Scottish Premiership games against Rangers, their only win in this time coming on Christmas Eve, 2011 (D1).
Rangers are looking to win three consecutive matches in all competitions for just the second time under Steven Gerrard having previously done so in October 2018.
St Mirren have kept just one clean sheet across their last 18 away top-flight matches (W2 D2 L14), conceding 43 goals in those games while scoring just 10 in reply.
Scottish Premiership top scorer Alfredo Morelos (13 goals) has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 14 league games for Rangers, scoring 11 and assisting three.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Rangers 3-0 St Mirren
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Alfredo Morelos: He misses some but he scores loads and this game should suit him.
Vaclav Hladky: New St Mirren keeper is likely to be severely tested at Ibrox.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Rangers 4-0 St Mirren
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Nicola Katic: Can he cement his place as a first choice central defender with a consistent run of impressive form?
Simeon Jackson: His ability to convert a high percentage of the few chances Saints create will determine whether they can survive or not.
Referee: William Collum
Opta Stats
St Johnstone are winless in nine league contests with Celtic (D2 L7) and haven't scored a single goal in any of their last four such games against them (D1 L3).
Celtic have won each of their last four league away games against St Johnstone, scoring 19 goals; they last went on a longer away winning streak against them between October 2000 and December 2011 (seven straight wins).
This will be the second meeting between St Johnstone and Celtic in the Scottish Premiership in five days after Celtic's 2-0 win on Wednesday - this is St Johnstone's shortest gap between facing an opponent twice in the competition, whilst Celtic last played an opponent twice in such a short space of time back in November to December 2017, facing Motherwell on the November 29 and again on December 2.
St Johnstone have lost two of their last three home league games (W1), as many as their previous 15 such matches combined (W5 D8 L2).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: St Johnstone 2-3 Celtic
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Michael O'Halloran: Could have a part to play against the champions after returning to Perth again.
Callum McGregor: Scored in last 2 games and started all bar 2 games this season.
Andy Walker's Prediction: St Johnstone 1-2 Celtic
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Zander Clark: What an impressive season he's having for Tommy Wright's men.
Scott Bain: Been given an extended run as undisputed No 1, can he make the same number of quality saves that Craig Gordon was renowned for?
