Livingston faces Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, both teams looking for a boost as the holiday season ends. Celtic aims to build on their first win under new manager Wilfried Nancy.
Livingston vs Celtic – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Saturday, 27th December.
- Kick-off: 3pm BST.
- Venue: Home of the set fare arena.
Livingston Team News
David Martindale’s team is facing a growing injury list before the match against Celtic. Shane Blaney is out due to a muscle issue, while Adam Montgomery (calf), Cameron Kerr (ankle), and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) are still recovering. Martindale has emphasized the need for new players in January, with two recent signings already made.
Martindale told STV Sport that reinforcements are essential, stating, “We definitely need reinforcements. We’ve got two players already in, but we must seek additional talent to ensure we remain in the league.” He also acknowledged that the team hasn’t been earning enough points, taking personal responsibility for their struggles.
Celtic Team News
Celtic is also missing several important players for the game against Livingston. Jota (knee), Alistair Johnston (hamstring), Callum Osmand (hamstring), and Kelechi Iheanacho (hamstring) will not play. Cameron Carter-Vickers is out for the season due to an Achilles injury sustained in October, with a return expected by April 2026.
Additionally, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastian Tounekti are unavailable due to international duty in the Africa Cup of Nations. Marcelo Saracchi is also out but is nearing a return. Despite these injuries, Celtic is starting to regain form under new manager Wilfried Nancy, who secured his first win last Sunday against Aberdeen at Parkhead.
Form
Livingston
Livingston’s recent form has been troubling, with no wins in over four months. Their last victory was in August 2025. Recent results include a 0-1 loss to St. Mirren, a 2-2 draw against Dundee, and defeats against Motherwell (0-3), Aberdeen (0-1), and Rangers (1-2).
Currently in 12th place with nine points, Livingston is three points behind Kilmarnock but has a game in hand, making the match against Celtic vital despite the tough matchup. Martindale has noted the squad’s frustration, highlighting that they have created chances but haven’t converted them into goals, which has hurt their points tally.
Celtic
Celtic’s start under Nancy was rocky, with four straight losses. However, their recent 3-1 victory over 10-man Aberdeen marked a positive shift. Benjamin Nygren scored first in the 39th minute, followed by goals from Kieran Tierney and James Forrest to secure the win.
The team reflected on their performance, noting they had many opportunities and could have scored even more. Celtic is currently second in the table with 35 points, six points behind Hearts and with a game in hand, still in the running for the title.
Predicted Lineups
Livingston: Prior; Brenet, Wilson, Finlayson, Montano; Tait, Sylla; May, Pittman, Yengi; Bokila
Celtic: Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Tierney, Yang; McGregor, Engels; McCowan, Nygren, Maeda; Kenny
How to Watch Livingston vs Celtic?
UK viewers can watch the match on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Read Also – Every Premier League title winner who was outside the top four at Christmas
See More – Where every team top of the Premier League at Christmas finished the season
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