Celtic steamrolled Kilmarnock in the league opener and have perched themselves atop the league table. Last season, Brendan Rodgers’s men scored 95 goals and conceded 30 times in the Scottish topflight – making them the division’s best offensive and defensive team. Their record at Celtic Park is also exceptional, as demonstrated by the fact they only lost one Premiership game last season at home, and have only lost once in their previous 63 top-flight matches at their headquarters. They are away to a Hibernian outfit that was dispatched 3 nil by St Mirren last time out. Hibs have made several summer signings, with defensive duo Josef Bursik and Marvin Ekpiteta featuring in that defeat. It could be another tough day at the office for David Gray & Co. as they square off with the Scottish heavyweights. I preview that clash and more in this weekend’s Scottish Premiership preview!
Saturday, 10 August
1/5 Rangers | Draw 5/1 | Motherwell 10/1 (16:00)
Last season, Rangers would have been disappointed that rivals Celtic were able to beat them to the title by eight points (in the second phase) due to the fact they finished only three points behind them in the regular season. In fact, their overall points total of 85 was seven fewer than they achieved in 2022/23 and was significantly lower than the 102 points they accumulated in their most recent title-winning season. To manager Philippe Clement’s credit, he only took over from Michael Beale on October 15 2023 after the former Queens Park Rangers boss was sacked. Rangers have made eight additions to the squad, and the likes of Connor Barron and Vaclav Cerny made their first competitive starts for the club in their goalless draw with Hearts on the opening weekend. Back Rangers on the win here!
1/1 Aberdeen | Draw 21/10 | St Mirren 51/20 (16:00)
Jimmy Thelin got his Aberdeen tenure off to a near-perfect start. His side claimed maximum points against St Johnstone in their league opener but a calamitous own goal by Gavin Molloy denied the Dons a clean sheet. Attracting plenty of interest from a number of top teams around Europe, Bojan Miovski is still an Aberdeen player. The forward will look to better his tally of sixteen league goals scored in the previous campaign and came close to opening his account last time out, striking the woodwork once from his four shots attempted. Back a win here for the home side!
29/20 Ross County | Draw 2/1 | Dundee Utd 17/10 (16:00)
Dundee United were relegated from the top flight after the end of the 2022-23 season, but they returned to the Scottish Premiership after they won the Championship title in 2023/24. Indeed, Jim Goodwin’s men accumulated an impressive 75 points from their 36 league outings. Last time out, The Tangerines secured a point in the Dundee Derby but that would be seen as two points lost rather than a point gained. Their opponents in this one, Ross County, finished 11th with 35 points and only stayed in the top flight thanks to their 6-1 aggregate victory against Championship side Raith Rovers in a two-legged playoff tie. That being said, The Staggies come into the game in excellent form considering they are undefeated across the previous seven games after the end of last season. That spell includes four wins in their Scottish League Cup group, with the most recent being a 3-0 victory against Stirling Albion on July 27. I think this one is a game of few margins and will end in a stalemate.
2/1 Dundee | Draw 22/10 | Hearts 11/110 (16:00)
Last season was Dundee’s first back in the top flight, and they will be pleased that they avoided being drawn into the relegation playoff group. The Dark Blues come into Saturday’s clash in excellent form and have won seven of their nine matches since the conclusion of last season. One of those draws came in the Dundee Derby last weekend where Tom Docherty’s men had to come from behind twice to secure a point. In their first away game of the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership, Hearts will hope Saturday’s match can be the start of a sustained title charge. Last season, they finished third with 68 points from 38 games and I think they go one further this time around, having secured Crystal Palace’s Malachi Boateng. I think Hearts will claim maximum points here!
Sunday, 11 August
58/10 Hibernian | Draw 34/10 | Celtic 4/10 (13:30)
Ahead of their league opener, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hinted that he has concerns about the quality of the squad compared to last season. His comments are strangely timed considering his side has been excellent in their pre-season friendlies, with notable wins against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea being standout results. His side is fresh off a 4-nil romp over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership curtain raiser last weekend wherein signing Kasper Schmeichel made his first competitive start for The Bhoys, compared to the 3-nil defeat Hibernian experienced. I can only see a victory for Celtic here!
7/10 Kilmarnock | Draw 47//20 | St. Johnstone 7/2 (16:00)
Although Kilmarnock posed challenges to Celtic last season, the hosts have continued their excellent form through their pre-season friendlies. Indeed, Killie were one of only two teams to beat Celtic in the league last season, winning 2-1 at home on December 10. Manager Derek McInnes has been in charge since January 2022, when his team was in the Scottish Championship, and has seen his side grow from strength to strength. Last season, his chargers scored 46 goals and conceded 44 times in the top flight as they went on to better their 2022/23 points tally by sixteen. McInnes’s side was eliminated from the 2024/25 Europa League qualifiers earlier this summer and was dismantled 4 nil by Celtic in the league opener, however, I expect them to put their first points on the board in front of their home supporters. Back Kilmarnock on the win here!
Written by Desh Parthab