Preview: Celtic vs. St Johnstone - prediction, team news, lineups

While the Hoops sit top of the table with maximum points from their opening two games, the Saints find themselves rock-bottom having failed to pick up a single point.

Match preview

After winning a historic domestic treble under Ange Postecoglou last season, Celtic will not be celebrating the same success with new boss Brendan Rodgers this term after they crashed out in the second round of the League Cup to Kilmarnock last weekend, losing 1-0 at Rugby Park.

The 21-time League Cup champions, who have won the competition in seven of the last nine years, "didn't do enough to win the game" according to Rodgers, and the contest was ultimately decided by a 59th-minute tap-in by Marley Watkins which condemned the Hoops to defeat against Killie for the first time since September 2018.

Celtic will welcome a return to Parkhead on Saturday as they have not lost any of their last 21 home matches in all tournaments dating back to October last year. The Glaswegian giants have scored at least two or more goals in 19 games during this period, although they have only kept seven clean sheets in the process.

Prior to their surprise cup upset, Rodgers and co had made a solid start to the new Premiership season, with a 4-2 home victory over Ross County followed by a 3-1 away win against Aberdeen.

Celtic will be confident of returning to winning ways this weekend as they have won each of their last nine meetings with St Johnstone including their last two by 4-1 scorelines.

St Johnstone, meanwhile, have endured a difficult start to the new campaign, losing five of their opening six matches in all competitions including each of their last three without scoring.

The Saints were eliminated in the League Cup group stage last month, finishing third behind Championship side Ayr United and League One outfit Stirling Albion after suffering respective 2-1 and 4-0 defeats, and they have since lost both of their opening two Premiership fixtures to Hearts and Ross County by a 2-0 scoreline.

Steven MacLean, who was appointed as St Johnstone's permanent manager in May after initially succeeding Callum Davidson on an interim basis, admitted earlier this month that his Saints side are a "work in progress", but he has taken positives from the attitude and work ethic of his players thus far.

St Johnstone have had a full week to rest and prepare for their trip to Parkhead, but hopes of claiming their first three points of the new season on Saturday are slim as they have failed to win any of their last 26 encounters with Celtic since a 2-1 home triumph back in May 2016.

Celtic Scottish Premiership form:

Celtic form (all competitions):

St Johnstone Scottish Premiership form:

St Johnstone form (all competitions):

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Team News

Celtic boss Rodgers is hoping to sign a new centre-back before the summer transfer window closes as Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Steven Welsh are all set to remain sidelined until October with injuries, while Yuki Kobayashi is not expected to return until after the international break along with midfielder Reo Hatate.

Either Tomoki Iwata or Liam Scales is set to start at the heart of the defence alongside Gustaf Lagerbielke, who made his debut last weekend, and right-back Alistair Johnston could also fill in if required now that he has recovered from an ankle injury.

Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda are all expected to continue in attack, while midfielder David Turnbull could be recalled at the expense of Odin Thiago Holm.

As for St Johnstone, Nicky Clark, Tony Gallacher, Ali Crawford and Callum Booth all remain in the treatment room with injuries, but James Brown and Cammy MacPherson could be in contention to return to the matchday squad.

Goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, who has been called up to the Bulgaria squad for next month's international break, is set for a busy afternoon between the sticks, with Sam McClelland and Liam Gordon set to provide protection as centre-backs.

Jay Turner-Cooke and Luke Robinson joined the Saints on loan from Newcastle United and Wigan Athletic respectively earlier this week and the duo could be available to make their debuts at Parkhead.

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Hart; Ralston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor; O'Riley, McGregor, Turnbull; Abada, Furuhashi, Maeda

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:

Mitov; Olufunwa, McClelland, Gordon, Considine; McGowan, Phillips; Smith, Ballantyne, Carey; May

We say: Celtic 3-0 St Johnstone

Rodgers will be keen to see a response from his Celtic side, who will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways in a favourable home fixture against St Johnstone.

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