Celtic vs Dundee United: Team News, Predicted Lineups and Score Prediction

Celtic, currently sitting comfortably at the top of the Premiership table, host Dundee United, who are in 3rd place, at Parkhead on January 8th, 2025, at 19:45 GMT. This match promises to be a fascinating encounter between two sides with contrasting fortunes in recent weeks. 

Celtic vs Dundee United Form 

Celtic's recent form has been nothing short of dominant, winning 23 of their last 26 Premiership matches. Their home record against Dundee United is even more impressive, boasting an unbeaten run stretching back over 41 matches across all competitions.

In their last eight Premiership games, they've impressively kept seven clean sheets. However, they've also seen over 2.5 goals scored in their last four league outings, suggesting their defence might be slightly more vulnerable than usual. 

Dundee United's form, in contrast, has been more inconsistent. They've struggled to find wins recently and their overall league form is a clear indication of that. Their recent head-to-head record against Celtic shows four losses and two draws in their last six meetings, highlighting the significant challenge that awaits them at Parkhead. 

Celtic vs Dundee United Predicted Lineups and Team News 

Celtic (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Taylor, Trusty, Carter-Vickers, Johnston; Engels, McGregor, McCowan; Maeda, Furuhashi, Kühn. 

Team News: Celtic will be without Oliver Holm due to injury, while James Forrest is doubtful. Manager Brendan Rodgers has made four changes to his starting XI following their recent loss to Rangers, bringing in players like Trusty and McCowan.

Dundee United (5-4-1): Walton; Ferry, Holt, Gallagher, Adegboyega, Strain; Middleton, Sevelj, Odada, Stephenson; Dalby. 

Team News: Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has made three changes to his team following their 2-1 derby victory, but a defeat against Hearts at the weekend. Lawrence Moult and Chris Sibbald are both doubtful for the match. 

Celtic vs Dundee United Tactical Analysis 

Celtic, with their possession-based style and emphasis on short passes and through balls, will likely dominate possession. Their strengths lie in their clinical finishing and counter-attacking prowess, creating numerous opportunities. However, their relative weakness in aerial duels could be exploited by Dundee United who are stronger in the air. 

Dundee United, on the other hand, will likely employ a more direct approach, utilizing long balls and crosses into the box. Their attacking approach prioritizes creating chances and taking numerous shots which could cause the home team problems. Their focus will be to nullify Celtic's midfield dominance and leverage their aerial strength to win second balls.  The clash of styles could prove decisive, with Celtic's superior technical ability potentially outweighing Dundee United's direct approach. 

Key Battle: Furuhashi vs Gallagher 

Kyogo Furuhashi, Celtic's prolific striker, will be a key figure in the home side's attack. His movement, finishing ability, and link-up play will be crucial to breaking down Dundee United's defence. He will be directly up against Declan Gallagher, Dundee United's central defender who will need to be at his best to contain the threat posed by Furuhashi. Gallagher's strength in aerial duels may provide a way to limit Furuhashi's impact, but his ability to cope with the striker's quick movement and clever runs will be vital. 

Celtic vs Dundee United Prediction 

Given Celtic's superior form, home advantage, and overall dominance in recent head-to-head encounters, a comfortable victory for the Hoops seems likely. While Dundee United possess the capability to cause problems, especially in aerial duels, Celtic's quality and consistency should see them through.

We predict a 3-0 win for Celtic, with Furuhashi playing a key role in the outcome. A betting angle to consider might be under 2.5 goals, given Celtic's recent clean sheets, but the high scoring nature of their last four games may make this less likely.