Scottish Premiership: Can Rangers topple Celtic? Top six predictions and team previews
WhoScored will be covering Scottish football this upcoming season
A premature end to proceedings in Scotland halted domestic action for the 2019/20 campaign, crowning Celtic champions for the ninth consecutive season.
The good news, however, is that a quick turnaround is on the cards with the resumption of the league next Saturday (August 1st).
WhoScored.com are delighted to have secured extended coverage of the Scottish Premiership for the 2020/21 season - bringing you all of our usual match stats and ratings for all things north of the border.
CELTIC
In their final bid to firmly grab the bragging rights from fierce rivals Rangers, Celtic are in search of their 10th title in a row this season.
Having an extended 13 point gap when last season finished, Celtic’s superior squad depth saw a mercurial run of form whilst Rangers dipped post-Christmas.
With the likes of Olivier Ntcham, Tom Rogic and Leigh Griffiths regularly sitting on the bench, Celtic have options to keep competition in the team as well as sharing the workload towards the end of the season.
This was shown in their whopping goal difference last season, scoring 89 times and conceding just 19 goals, for a combined +70.
The continued excellent form of Ryan Christie is another huge weapon in the arsenal of a side very good going forward, whilst Callum McGregor continues to impress in midfield.
If the Parkhead side are able to keep hold of in-demand 27-goal striker Odsonne Edouard this summer, alongside positive moves like extending Mohamed Elyounoussi’s loan move from Southampton, Neil Lennon’s side look tough to topple.
One sticking point, however, might be between the sticks. It’s still unclear if Southampton keeper Fraser Forster will take a wage cut to play for Celtic again this season. With back-up keeper Scott Bain consistent, if unremarkable, it’ll be interesting to see who starts in goal for the Hoops next season.
Projected Finish: 1st
RANGERS
A topsy-turvy season for the Ibrox side last campaign saw them almost touch favouritism to win the league last year, although the aforementioned squad depth put to bed any real title challenge.
There’s no doubt that Steven Gerrard has improved Rangers, particularly in Europe. A lone defeat to Bayer Leverkusen was the side’s only home defeat in nine home games, winning seven of them.
Although, it’s not the big games that sceptics are worried about. Dropping points to the likes of Hamilton Academical and Kilmarnock in the league is where Gerrard’s men stumbled last season.
The permanent £3m addition of Ianis Hagi injects a much-needed outlet for creativity and guile, whist adding the likes of Calvin Bassey from Leicester and Sunderland’s Jon McLaughlin certainly provides competition for starting places.
Like Edouard with Celtic, Rangers will likely be hounded for the services of star striker Alfredo Morelos, although reports suggest the Colombian international is set to play the 2020/21 season for Rangers.
Whilst I expect the gap to come edging closer than last season, I can’t see Rangers having the wherewithal to outmuscle Celtic over the course of 38 games.
Projected finish: 2nd
ABERDEEN
The season stopped at the wrong time for Aberdeen, with a stuttering Motherwell team towards the end of the season resulting in the Dons coming close to catching third place.
Alas, they couldn’t. Which as of itself seems like the perfect analogy for Derek McInnes and his time at Aberdeen.
The return of Johnny Hayes to Pittodrie is a positive one and a much-needed boost for the Dons.
All eyes will be on their transfer outgoings, with star striker Sam Cosgrove appearing in many of the portfolios of scouts across the country and abroad.
A £2m offer was accepted a fortnight ago for Cosgrove, but the striker turned down the opportunity to join Ligue 2 side Guingamp.
Cosgrove grabbed 11 league goals as well as regularly bagging in cup competitions. If the Dons can hold onto the forward, they should be well placed to finish third.
Projected finish: 3rd
MOTHERWELL
The Steelmen continue to defy expectations. With a stadium capacity of just 13,000, a small catchment area or fans regularly gobbled up by the Old Firm, it’s quite unbelievable how Motherwell continue to punch above their weight.
With little-to-no funds to strengthen the squad, an exemplary youth academy secured the club European football, with the likes of Alan Campbell and David Turnbull regular stand out performers.
The sale of James Scott to Hull is an excellent example of how the Lanarkshire club develop talent and then sell on for a relative exorbitant fee in order to keep a sustainable model for the club.
Looking like a theme that will permeate the season, the main peril for the Steelmen revolves around gaffer Stephen Robinson. Hearts, Northern Ireland and Huddersfield have all come calling so far, although to no avail.
With commanding centre back and new captain Declan Gallagher keeping it tight at the back, David Turnbull pulling the strings alongside Campbell in midfield and new 6’4 striker Jordan White offering the team a new dimension – Motherwell are one to watch again this season.
Projected finish: 4th
HIBERNIAN
The 2020/21 season marks Jack Ross’ first full campaign with the Hibees – and he’ll certainly be aiming for higher than the seventh place achieved last season.
Hibs showed signs of promise at times and you can see a real spine emerging with Ryan Porteous, Scott Allan, Steven Mallan and Christian Doidge leading the line. Meanwhile, centre forward Kevin Nisbet was on the scoresheet in their pre-season game against Hamilton, and will be decent fodder to challenge Doidge.
With time to work with the squad following the premature end to last season, I expect Hibs to be far more organised by the time next Saturday’s game with Kilmarnock kicks off.
A Scottish Cup semi-final on the horizon, Hibs are trending in the right direction and I think they’ll finish in the top six but not have enough to finish in the European places.
Projected finish: 5th
DUNDEE UNITED
For me, this is the real interesting team when it comes to the 2020/21 season. By far the best team in the Scottish Championship last season, the Tangerines stormed the league.
One potentially seismic stumbling block came in the shape of ex-manager Robbie Neilson, jumping ship to Hearts just after achieving promotion. Micky Mellon is the man in charge for the upcoming season, with the former Tranmere Rovers boss now in the dugout.
With deep resources available to the side, it will come to no surprise when United strengthen in the upcoming transfer window, as well as keeping hold of top players.
And when it comes to top players at the club – there’s one in particular. Striker Lawrence Shankland was never off the little ticker on Soccer Saturday last season, seemingly scoring at any given opportunity.
An astonishing return of 24 goals in 26 games saw the young forward called up to Scotland international set-up as well as being linked with a host of top clubs.
It looks likely that the Arabs will keep hold of Shankland for their return season in the Scottish Premiership, as well as investing in their wider squad, they look well placed for a top-six finish.
Projected finish: 6th
