With the biggest sporting fixture in UK sports mere hours away, we look at the key battles across the park in today’s League Cup Final.

The Maeda Problem

In what is arguably Phillipe Clement’s biggest headache ahead of today’s fixture is who he starts at right back. Daizen Maeda has tortured Rangers captain James Tavernier in past fixtures constantly. The Japanese star is constantly looked to in this fixture, with Tavernier seemingly unable to cope with Maeda’s electrifying pace.

Tavernier had been dropped by Clement in weeks prior, Sterling had been given the nod, and it had seemed that the Rangers legend was maybe on his way out of the club. An injury to Sterling has changed all that however, Tavernier has come back into the side, and his form has skyrocketed. The captain has been chipping in with goals and assists and was excellent in the Europa League on Thursday night against Tottenham.

I argue this is largely irrelevant. Tavernier has been in good form going into an Old Firm before, but the result always ends the same. He has consistently not fared well against Maeda. It is not just on the ball but off it, too. Tavernier likes time and likes to see a pass, Maeda gives him none of that. He is key to the Celtic press, and he does not give Tavernier a moment to be effective. It was Maeda who nicked the ball off Tavernier at Ibrox to help fire Celtic into an early lead.

In my opinion, this is Clements’s biggest selection choice today. I believe he should be bold and start Sterling. Celtic will likely have most of the ball. Rangers need a solid shape out of possession, and Sterling should give them that. He is less attacking than Tavernier, who lets the attack worry about creating chances.

However, when push comes to shove, I predict that Clement will stick with and put his faith in his captain.

Prediction – Tavernier starts. 

Battle for the midfield

Rangers are coming into this game largely as the underdogs, but if they can nullify the influence of Callum McGregor in the middle of the park, they give themselves every chance.

Everything Celtic do comes through their captain. He picks the ball up in midfield, controls the tempo, and keeps the game ticking over with little five-yard passes that just moves the opposition around. Players have tried to press him in the past, but he knocks it around them and splits the lines into the midfield, with Hatate always looking to be an option.

In past Old Firm games, Rangers have been unable to deal with the experienced midfielders’ influence in this fixture. Nicolas Raskin has been outstanding in recent games, and his performance on Thursday was the exact type Rangers will need if they’re to stop McGregor from inserting his influence.

Raskin has had serious questions asked about his fitness for the majority of his time at the club. His ability has never been doubted, but his fitness issues have been a concern to supporters. On Thursday, he showed what Rangers fans expected of the Belgian, his intensity and work rate got the better of Premier League operators James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur.

I would expect Rangers to set up similar to how they did against Spurs, with the same midfield two of Raskin and Diomande. This game is far too soon for Connor Barron; he is yet to show me anything he is worthy of a Rangers jersey personally.

But I expect McGregor to lean on his experience and know-how in this fixture. I expect a frantic opening few minutes, and then McGregor will slowly drop five yards, start picking up the ball off the centre-backs and just slowly start dictating the play. For me, it is key that Rangers only let him play it side to side or backwards, they cannot allow Hatate or company time and space to turn and face the Rangers goal. If they can cut off McGregor’s passing lanes, they have a chance.

Rejuvenated Rangers attack or CCV & Trusty excellence

Hamza Igamane has been a revolution in the Rangers attack in recent weeks. His goals and work rate have been key in the Rangers uptick in form, now in pole position to overcome Aberdeen in second place. Alongside him, Vaclav Cerny put in a superb performance against Spurs on Thursday as he has started to replicate some of the form that was expected of him when he joined in the summer.

Rangers have been a lot more free-flowing in recent weeks, with Clement seemingly finally finding a system that has unlocked the attacking talent at Ranger’s disposal. Dessers days seem to be numbered; he has only been making substitute appearances in recent weeks, with Clement opting for Danilo or Igamane through the middle.

It would be harsh on Danilo to be dropped after his performances in recent weeks, but after the effective work of Jefte and Yilmaz on Thursday, it is now out of the question that Igamane starts today through the middle.

In Celtic’s defence, however, they come up against Cameron Carter-Vickers and presumably Auston Trusty. The centre-back pairing has been key in Celtic’s defensive dominance this season, with Carter-Vickers by far and away the best centre-back in the league.

Alistair Johnston is the one with a question mark hanging over his head. Taken off on Tuesday at half-time, it remains to be seen whether he is fit enough to start today. Arguably the best fullback in the league, he is one of the first names on the team sheet for Celtic. If he isn’t, Anthony Ralston is the natural replacement, and Rangers will have to hope their wingers can get more joy out of him and Greg Taylor than CCV or Trusty.

Borussia Dortmund are effectively the only team to get the better of this defence, knocking seven past Celtic in Germany. Rangers will need to be at their very best if they hope to trouble this vaunted back line in green and white.

Prediction: Celtic 2 – 1 Rangers (AET).