Preview: Motherwell vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts come into this one off the back of a narrow defeat to Rangers, while the visitors possess positive momentum going into the clash following a convincing victory over Hibernian last weekend.

Match preview

Motherwell enter the fray in search of a victory after two consecutive losses in the Scottish Premiership, where they currently occupy eighth place in the table under Steven Hammell.

Following an initially positive start, results have tailed off, leaving the Steelmen with just one win in their last seven Scottish Premiership matches.

In their latest fixture, Motherwell went close to staging a dramatic fightback against second-placed Rangers though ultimately lost out by a score of 2-1 despite late pressure from the home side.

Malik Tillman opened the scoring in the 53rd minute for Giovanni Van Bronckhorst's team before midfielder John Lundstram looked to have secured a comfortable victory for the visitors with a stooping header in the 69th minute.

Nevertheless, Motherwell loanee Stuart McKinstry pulled one back with an excellent free kick on 77 minutes. However, it was to be purely a consolation as the Lanarkshire side could not carve out many clear opportunities for the remainder of the game.

Hammell will be hoping his team can take some encouragement from their weekend endeavours into Wednesday's tie, where they will attempt to take one step closer to Scottish League Cup glory.

Celtic travel to Fir Park as reigning champions of the Scottish League Cup and hope to continue their sparkling domestic form under Ange Postecoglou on Wednesday.

The Hoops have made a confident start to the 2022-23 campaign, sitting top of the Scottish Premiership on 27 points with 10 matches played, putting them two points in front of rivals Rangers.

Last time out, the Hoops recorded a thumping 6-1 triumph over Hibernian at a packed Celtic Park courtesy of a hat-trick from James Forrest, a brace from Giorgos Giakoumakis and a late strike from Daizen Maeda.

They are now on a run of three straight victories in the Scottish Premiership, where they have lost just one game all season which came in a 2-0 defeat to St Mirren back in September.

Celtic have won five of the last six Scottish League Cups available to them and will go into the tie full of confidence that they can claim the victory and advance closer to another piece of silverware.

Motherwell Scottish League Cup form:

W

Motherwell form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

L

L

Celtic Scottish League Cup form:

W

Celtic form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

L

W

Team News

Motherwell face several injury concerns ahead of the visit of Celtic.

Ricki Lamie is a doubt due to sustaining an impact on his ribs in the defeat to Rangers, whereas Blair Spittal could also miss out as he did not make the matchday squad last weekend for the same reason.

Strikers Joseph Efford and Louis Moult may be unavailable to face Celtic owing to injury, while Nathan McGinley and Jake Carroll will be out of contention on Wednesday.

For the visitors, Callum McGregor will continue to be on the sidelines as he recovers from a serious knee injury. Carl Starfelt is not expected to return to action for another couple of weeks and Jota is a doubt for the tie as he has not featured since being taken off with a knock away to St Johnstone on October 8.

Sead Haksabanovic should be able to participate at Fir Park despite being taken off at half time against Hibernian last weekend due to an ankle injury.

Former Motherwell man David Turnbull could return to the matchday squad on Wednesday.

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Kelly; McGinn, Solholm Johansen, Mugabi, Penney; Slattery, Goss; Morris, Tierney, McKinstry; Van Veen

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Hart; Ralston, Jenz, Carter-Vickers, Taylor; Mooy, O'Riley, Hatate; Forrest, Haksabanovic, Giakoumakis

We say: Motherwell 1-3 Celtic

Both sides will be aiming to secure a passage through to the last four of the competition in what will no doubt be an intriguing match for the neutral.

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