BBC Alba to Show Scotland Stars Serie A Fixtures
BBC have announced that they have agreed a deal to show eight Serie A fixtures featuring Scottish players, starting this Sunday with Che Adams’ Torino vs Lewis Ferguson’s Bologna. It marks a return for free-to-air Italian football content, with a sub licensing deal made with main provider DAZN allowing the BBC to show a record number of Scots playing in Italy in the lead-up to the World Cup. The agreement allows BBC Alba to broadcast eight Serie A matches, with the finalised showing guide expected to be focussed on the clubs with Scottish players, which are Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Kieron Bowie (Hellas Verona), Billy Gilmour & Scott McTominay (Napoli), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Che Adams (Torino), and Lennon Miller (Udinese). BBC Alba director of content Margaret Cameron said: “This is a great opportunity for fans in Scotland to see these games free-to-air and enjoy watching the fantastic Scottish talent in Serie A in the run up to the World Cup.” Alba Presenter Alex O’Henley added: “With the World Cup finals only a few months away, it’s a hugely exciting time for Scottish fans to be following the fortunes of our players in Italy.” Coverage begins from 16:50 GMT this Sunday, with Torino vs Bologna to have Gaelic and English co-commentary available for the Tartan Army spectators.
Celtic 2-1 Livingston: Debut Delight for Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored on his Celtic debut to earn his new side a 2-1 victory over bottom of the league Livingston. The former Liverpool midfielder came off the bench with the game tied at 1-1, with Marcelo Saracchi, who also got his first Celtic goal, opening the scoring in the first half before a Robbie Muirhead penalty restored parity. It was a ferocious start from Martin O’Neill’s men, who peppered Jerome Prior’s goal with threats from Callum McGregor and Tomas Cvancara in the opening stages. Yet Livingston still managed to warn the champions that they won’t be having it all their own way, with Stevie May forcing a fantastic save from Kasper Schmeichel after a catalogue of chances up the other end inside the first ten minutes. Daizen Maeda had an effort bundled off the line but Livingston’s resilience was broken on the 15th minute. A corner fell to Marcelo Saracchi at the edge of the penalty box, and the Uruguayan’s effort sailed beyond Prior to break the deadlock. The goal seemingly sucked any life out of the game. Celtic, who could have had a hatful before scoring, failed to create chances at the same rate they had done and went down the tunnel with a slender advantage. This was all the initiative that Marvin Bartley’s side needed. Reo Hatate brought Robbie Muirhead down inside the box and gave the away side a way back into the match from 12 yards. Muirhead stepped up, and fired down the middle whilst Schmeichel dived to his left. The Hoops threw the kitchen sink at Livi in seek of a winner, turning to the likes of Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and cup hero Junior Adamu from the bench for a changes of fortunes. But it would be debutant substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who would deliver the largest impact from the bench in added time. The former Champions League winner opened up his body just outside the area after receiving it from left-winger Sebastian Tounekti, and curled it home to secure all three points for his new employers. Livingston had a penalty claim for handball waved away in the final minute of injury time, with referee Calum Scott’s whistle bringing an end to proceedings as the Lions now sit nine points adrift at the foot of the table. Celtic close the gap on second placed Rangers to a sole point, albeit with a game in hand. Their attention turns to this Sunday as they travel to Kilmarnock with a chance of leapfrogging their rivals for at least a couple of hours before they host Hearts in a mouthwatering top of the table clash. Livingston’s winless run in the league extends to 24 matches following tonight’s late defeat. The all-time record belongs to Morton from 1987/88 who went 28 without victory, Livi are running out of chances not to beat this as they face Dundee up at Den’s Park this Saturday. CELTIC: Schmeichel 5, Saracchi 6 (Tierney 4 61′), Scales 6, Trusty 5, Araujo 6 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 78′ 5), Engels 2 (Hatate 2 32′), McGregor 5, Maeda 4 (Forrest 2 78′), Nygren 6, Tounekti 5, Cvancara 4 (Adamu 2 61′) LIVINGSTON: Prior 6, Kabongolo 6, Finlayson 5, Wilson 5, Kerr 4 (Montano 2 61′), Lawal 4, Danso 3 (Sylla 61′ 2), Tait 4 (Smith 73′), Pittman 6, May 3 (Wanner 67′ 1) Muirhead 6 (Bokila 1 72′)
Hearts 1-0 Hibernian: The Late, Late Show With Tomas Magnusson
Hearts left it late against city rivals Hibs in a 1-0 victory, extending the Gorgie side’s lead at the league summit to six points at least until tomorrow. Tomas Magnusson’s third goal of the season was all that was needed to secure victory in a cagey affair, as the Hibee’s suffer late derby heartache for the second time at Tynecastle this season following Craig Halkett’s last gasp winner back in October. Derek McInnes’ side have ramped up the pressure on Rangers and Celtic once more, with both sides in action against Motherwell and Livingston tomorrow evening respectively. Hibs gave their opponents a fright inside the first ten minutes with a 2 vs 1 attack. New recruit Felix Passlack done well to find space and create an opening, but his final ball to slip in Martin Boyle lacked the perfection that was desperately needed, giving Hearts time to regroup and defend. In a game that lacked quality throughout, the best chance of the first half for Hearts fell for Islam Chesnokov just minutes before half time. The Kazakhstani attacker, making his first start since signing in January, latched onto a break of the ball inside Raphael Sallinger’s six-yard box following an attempt from Pierre Landry Kabore. He got it all wrong, however, lifting the ball over the bar and keeping the scoreline level heading into the interval. Hibs managed to control periods of the game better in the second period without creating anything meaningful until Nicky Cadden stepped up with just over twenty minutes of play. Cadden, who had produced a couple dangerous balls just prior, easily beat Chesnokov inside the box at the left flank, and put a teasing ball across the deck for Martin Boyle. The Australian flung a foot at it amid pressure from the Hearts’ defence, and it sailed over from close-range. With tension filling the air at a jam-packed Tynecastle Park, a hero stepped up with two minutes to play. Harry Milne drilled a ball into the box and Icelandic midfielder Tomas Magnusson ran onto and putted the ball with precision into the bottom left corner to take the roof of off the place. The result puts Hearts six points ahead of nearest challengers Rangers and nine ahead of third placed Celtic, with the former facing Jens Berthel Askou’s Motherwell at Fir Park tomorrow and the latter at home to bottom of the pile Livingston. The Hibees remain fifth with one win from their last six in all competitions, as they hope Danny Rohl’s side can do them a favour and keep Motherwell from creating daylight between them in fourth. HEARTS: Schwolow 6, Milne 7, Findlay 5, Kent 5, McEntee 5, Baningime 6 (Magnusson 76′ 5), Leonard 5, Kyziridis 5 (Mato 87′ 1), Braga 7 (McCart 90+4), Chesnokov 4 (Altuena 76′ 2), Kabore 4 (Ageu 87′ 1) HIBERNIAN: Sallinger 5, Iredale 5, Bushiri 5, Garananga 4 (O’Hora 78′ 1), Cadden 7, Barlaser 6, Andrews 4, Passlack 5, Chaiwa 3 (McGrath 60′ 2), Scarlett 4 (Suto 60′ 3), Boyle 4 (Youan 73′ 1)
Everton 1-2 Bournemouth: Toffees Horrible Home Form Drags On
Bournemouth defeated Everton 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, making it six games since the Toffees last tasted victory at their new home. Iliman Ndiaye scored his first goal for the hosts since returning from winning AFCON with Senegal, converting a late first-half penalty which was cancelled out by a three minute second period salvo from Rayan and Amine Adil to see all the points travel back to the South-coast. Everton’s misery was compiled when Jake O’Brien was dismissed shortly after falling behind, making a comeback less probable. Bournemouth are now level on points with David Moyes’ side, and have only suffered league defeat in 2026 at the hands of league leaders Arsenal. Thierno Barry, who has enjoyed an upturn in form since scoring his first for Everton in their last win on home turf, should have netted his sixth of the campaign on the half hour mark with his rebound from James Garner’s saved free-kick. Alas, the Frenchman fired wide from close range. Everton found a breakthrough with three minutes of the half remaining courtesy of a spot-kick. Jarrad Branthwaite was fouled by eventually goalscorer Rayan, and Ndiaye’s penalty nestled into Djordje Petrovic’s bottom-left corner. However, a torrid ten minutes for the Blues flipped the game on its head. Just after the hour, left-back Adrien Truffert wicked right foot cross was met by Rayan at the far post, with the 19-year-old’s header turning him from zero to hero. The Brazilian has two goals and one assist in three games since making the switch in January from Vasco de Gama. And just over 200 seconds later, another header put Bournemouth in the driving seat. A deep free-kick was nodded across the six-yard box by James Hill and headed goal bound by Moroccan Amine Adil, giving the Cherries lead in a swift turnaround. Things went from bad to worse for Everton when defender Jake O’Brien seen red for a last man challenge on Adil just moments after he put his side in front. The Irishman will miss his side’s next fixture at home to Manchester United in just under two weeks, having not won in front of their own fans in over two months since dispatching former gaffer Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest there in early December. Any dropped points from that match will see Bournemouth leapfrog them into 8th place, as they travel to West Ham, who coincidentally drew with Manchester United this evening, two days before. EVERTON: Pickford 5, Mykolenko (Keane 90+3) 4, Branthwaite 6, Tarkowski 5, O’Brien 2, Gueye 5, Garner 6, George 3 (Armstrong 2), Dewsbury-Hall 5, Ndiaye 6, Barry 3 (Beto 62′ 2) BOURNEMOUTH: Petrovic 5, Jimenez 6, Hill 8, Senesi 6, Truffert 7, Scott 6, Toth 4 (Knal 58′ 3), Rayan 6 (Smith 90+3), Christie 5 (Cook 80′ 1), Adil 8 (Brooks 80′ 1), Evanilson 4 (Kroupi 58′ 3)
Celtic Complete Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Signing
Celtic have signed former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer. The 32-year-old has been without a club since having his contract terminated at Turkish side Besiktas in August last year and has been maintaining his fitness by training at former club Arsenal. Reports suggested Mikel Arteta was weighing up a short-term deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain amid an injury crisis, but no offer materialised. Oxlade-Chamberlain told club channels: “Speaking with the manager, it just felt like the perfect fit for me and I feel like I can come in and help out the lads. “Just talking to the manager, and Shaun Maloney as well, who told the expectations on the club and what it means to play here, what our targets are that he’s going to push me. “It’s exactly what I need. I need another challenge and lucky enough at a massive club like this. And they can help me get back to where I need to get to and, more importantly, I need to help the team achieve the goals that we want to do.” The ex-England international’s career began at Southampton before moving to Arsenal a week before his 18th birthday. He spent six years at the Emirates, where he won three F.A Cups, and then switched to Liverpool. He enjoyed the most successful period of his career at Anfield, winning the Premier League in 2020, and the Champions League in 2019, where he would stay until 2023 before moving to Besiktas. Amassing 35 caps for England, two of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s seven goals for his country have came against Scotland, including the opener in a 3-1 victory in a 2014 friendly at Celtic Park. Celtic’s next game is at home against Livingston, which could see Martin O’Neill hand his newest recruit a debut either in the starting eleven or from the bench.
“They Knew in That Dressing Room What They’d Done” – Kenny Dalglish Exclusive on Parkhead Return
Celtic hero Kenny Dalglish lifted the lid on what went wrong upon his return to Celtic Park as Director of Football in 1999, speaking exclusively on The Warm-Up, presented by William Hill. The Parkhead legend’s comeback overseen the ill-fated tenure of John Barnes as manager, with Dalglish quick to remember that his fellow Liverpool icon enjoyed a successful start to life in Glasgow. However, the 74-year-old revealed that he was apprehensive in showing Barnes support to avoid undermining him. Speaking to The Warm-Up, Dalglish said: “They asked me to make recommendations, and that [appointing Barnes] was one I made. “He had the second best start of any Celtic manager, at that time. They went to Aberdeen first game of the season and won 5-0. “Really, I didn’t know when to help him. I could maybe have helped him, and maybe I should’ve helped him, then I’m saying I don’t want to show up in front of the boys. I didn’t want to try and feel like I was trying to do that [undermining] because I never. “So I suppose that was my mistake.” Dalglish would step in as interim manager until the end of the season following Barnes dismissal after an infamous home 3-1 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and pulled no punches on how he felt about the players he inherited. “They were disgraceful. Well there’s an example, the last game of the season, there was eight or nine boys making their debut. “I didn’t regret going back. I regretted not helping maybe more than I could have, but I was trying to do it in John’s best interests. “When he left, I think they knew in that dressing room what they’d done. And if they never they got told anyway.” ‘King’ Kenny’s first role in management came as player/manager at Liverpool in 1985. Replacing Joe Fagan after the Heysel Stadium disaster, Dalglish took the reins at Anfield despite having three years left of a four-year playing deal, to the disbelief of himself and his wife Marina. “They [chairman and chief executive] said “we want to offer you the manager’s job” and I put the phone down. “And I said to Marina, they’ve just been on the phone there, they want to offer me the manager’s job. “She went ‘why?’. I says I don’t know, I was doing alright as well in the games! “I still don’t know why [they offered him the job]. I said yes, but if I’m garbage I’m going back to being a player, that was the first thing I said to them.” His first season ended with the club’s first double, pipping city rivals Everton to the league title by two points, in a season which seen Dalglish select himself and score the winner on the final day, before making the Toffees runners-up again in the F.A Cup final. As a player, he is revered at club and international level, amassing 102 caps and scoring 30 goals for Scotland, both of which are still national records. With current Scottish captain Andrew Robertson hot on the heels of his record with 90 current caps, Dalglish has some friendly advice for another Liverpool legend. “I think he should retire from international football! “It would be nice if we would [break the caps record], wouldn’t it? “I’ll let him have it!” Dalglish talks on the above and much more on the full episode of The Warm-Up, brought to you by William Hill, including breaking through after the Lisbon Lions at Celtic under Jock Stein, as well as a hilarious story with host Chris Sutton fancying himself at centre-half during Dalglish’s time as Blackburn Rovers boss. Kenny Dalglish features on The Warm-Up, the William Hill SPFL’s weekly preview show. Check out the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/@WilliamHillSPFL
Celtic Sign Junior Adamu on Loan Until End of Season
Celtic have signed SC Freiburg striker Junior Adamu on loan until the end of the season, with an option included to later make the move permanent. The Austrian International has scored one goal in nine Bundesliga appearances this season, and becomes the Parkhead side’s third arrival this window. And the 24-year-old is relishing the chance to revive his form that earned him a move to Germany in 2023. He told Celtic’s official website: “I’m very excited to be here and I can’t wait to get started. “I want to give my best for this club and try and win the title, and also the cup, and to score a lot of goals and help the team, and I also want to improve as a player. “I’ve spoken with the manager and he’s given me good motivation, and I trust him, he’s given me that trust, he’s told me how the system is and I feel the connection is really strong. “I’m dangerous in the box and hungry for goals. That’s what the manager sees in me and I want to show that on the pitch. “I can’t wait to be in the stadium. I’ve seen a lot of videos and it looks amazing and I can’t wait to get started.” Adamu is the second striker brought in on loan in January for Celtic after Tomas Cvancara signed from Borussia Monchengladbach last week. Both will be eyeing for a start on Wednesday night as the Hoops travel to face Aberdeen. Johnny Kenny has left on loan for Bolton Wanderers, meaning Martin O Neill’s two loan frontmen and Kelechi Iheanacho now make up Celtic’s attacking options.
Livingston 0-2 Motherwell: Maswanhise Magic Worries Bottom of Pile Livingston
Tawanda Maswanhise scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season as Motherwell strolled to a 2-0 win over bottom of the league Livingston at the Home of the Set Fare Arena. The attacker moves clear of next highest scorers in Premiership golden boot race, as rumours of his future rumble before Monday’s transfer deadline. It now means that Livingston have went twenty two games without a win in the Premiership, equalling a record low in this division this century. In a half that was one-way-traffic for the visiting side, the hosts had a glaring opportunity to score the opener inside two minutes. Stevie May combined with Scott Pittman to knock the ball over to an unmarked Connor McLennan, but he was denied excellently by Calum Ward as his extended arm put the ball out for a corner. The league’s top scorer Tawanda Maswanhise resumed his usual business less than five minutes in when he was was picked out perfectly by midfielder Elijah Just. The New Zealand international’s pinpoint cross was met with a looping nod from his Zimbabwean teammate to give the Steelmen an early advantage. Just could have been provider for Maswanhise again 24 minutes in had he chosen to be. A long ball from the Motherwell backline seemingly out of nowhere seen the pair through in a 2 vs 1, with Just opting to go for goal rather than pick out the goalscorer again. His effort however, curled off of the post. Maswanhise would grab his second though just four minutes later. Daniel Finlayson’s clearance failed to go beyond Callum Slattery just outside the Livingston box. The Motherwell number eight slipped in his frontman, who made it two for him and the ‘Well with a lovely opened-body curled finish into the bottom right corner. It is the thirteenth goal in the league this season for the 23-year-old, which puts him two clear of both Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren and injured Hearts’ captain Lawrence Shankland. The foot came off the gas for Motherwell in the second half, threatening with far less frequency than they did in the first with a wayward effort from Ibrahim Said and tame strike from hat-trick hunter Maswanhise. Livingston nearly found a way back into the game with just over twenty minutes to play. Connor McLennan’s cross from the left travelled the width of the Motherwell six-yard-box, but could not be met by Scott Pittman, despite a sliding attempt to. Calum Ward nearly gifted the home side a way back into the match on the 73rd minute. The goalkeeper’s lacklustre pass out was halted by the foot of Robbie Moorhead, yet the heaviness of the touch allowed Ward to recollect and spare his blushes, keeping a shutout on the cards. Tawanda Maswanhise left the field to a standing ovation from the away support, who will be hoping he is still playing in claret and amber for their visit to Dundee this Wednesday, amid intense speculation linking him with moves to Celtic, Rangers and Blackburn Rovers. Defeat for Livingston today coinciding with a Kilmarnock win at home to Aberdeen sees them fall further behind the Rugby Park side at the foot of the table, with the gap now standing at six points. Twenty-two Premiership matches since David Martindale’s side last tasted victory when they defeated Falkirk on the second day of the campaign. If they fail to beat John McGlynn’s side on Wednesday evening, they overtake Hamilton Academical’s unwanted record of most games without a win from 2010/11. Jens Berthel Askou’s men continue to pull up trees as they move further ahead of Hibernian in fourth place, with the Easter Road club not in action until a home fixture against Rangers tomorrow. They make a trip North to face Dundee on Wednesday, before turning their attention to an away Scottish Cup tie against manager-less Aberdeen. LIVINGSTON: Prior 5, Fati 4 (Lawal 77’ 1), McGowan 4 , Pittman 6, Muirhead 4 (Tamm 77’ 1), McLennan 5 (Smith 77’ 1 ), May 4 (Zimmerman 67’ 4), Finlayson 3, Danso 5 (Sylla 67’ 1), Tait 4, Brenet 5 MOTHERWELL: Ward 6, O’Donnell 6, Sparrow 6, Slattery 6, Fadinger 5, McGinn 6, Maswanhise 9 (Mbule 76’ 1), Just 8 (Nicholson 64’ 2), Koutroumbis 5 (Gordon 85’ 1), Priestman 5, Said 6 (Bjorgolfsson 64’ 2)
Kenny Dalglish Exclusive – Anfield Legend’s Advice for Scotland Captain Robertson
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has wished that Scotland captain Andrew Robertson stays at Anfield until the expiry of his contract this summer. The left back’s deal in Merseyside runs out at the end of this season, with rumoured interest from Tottenham Hotspur being reported this month for a cut-price transfer. But compatriot Dalglish revealed exclusively on The Warm-Up, presented by William Hill, that he hopes the 31-year-old remains at the Premier League holders until the summer to ensure of a fitting send-off. Dalglish said: “I hope he stays where he is, because he’s been brilliant for Liverpool. “He’s a decent fella—he’s done a great job. “I don’t know if he’s going to move on from Liverpool. It may be best to just let it run its course. When his contract is up, it’s up. “And if he has to go somewhere else, it will be sad. I hope the Liverpool supporters get the opportunity, if he is going to go, to say cheerio to him.” The Scotland captain joined Liverpool from Hull City in 2017, but had faced stiff competition this season for playing time since the Reds signed Hungarian Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth last summer. Spurs have already made their interest clear, and there have been murmurs of a move back to his homeland to boyhood heroes Celtic, who released Robertson at youth level. Dalglish talks Andy Robertson and more on this upcoming episode of The Warm-Up, brought to you by William Hill, where footballing icon is joined by Kris Boyd, Steven Naismith and Chris Sutton for a comprehensive conversation covering his early days growing up in Glasgow and his journey through Jock Stein’s Celtic and Liverpool – becoming arguably the greatest player Scotland has ever produced. On Monday 2nd February, the full episode will be published – including stories of Kenny’s early days at Celtic, how his Dad became one of the only people to ever stand up to Jock Stein, being part of a Tartan revolution at Liverpool before successfully moving into management. Kenny Dalglish features on The Warm-Up, the William Hill SPFL’s weekly preview show. Check out the full episode here from Monday: https://www.youtube.com/@WilliamHillSPFL
“It Probably Will Go Down To The Last Couple of Games” – Callum McGregor
Celtic captain Callum McGregor admits that the title race may go down to the wire after his side missed a chance to cut the gap on leaders Hearts yesterday in a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle. The defending champions were ahead twice thanks to goals from Benjamin Nygren and Hyun-jun Yang, but a late Claudio Braga equaliser after an Austin Trusty sending off meant the gap between the sides remained at six points. And with Rangers’ revival under Danny Rohl bringing them above Celtic into second place, McGregor believes the three-horse-race will go to the final stages of the season. He said: “I think if everyone is sensible about it then it probably will go down to the last couple of games. “We know where we are, we know where we need to be, and today you know, you have to stay in touch, and given the circumstances, a point is a decent result. “We are a little bit disappointed that we don’t hang on, but you know that Hearts are going to come strong, they’re strong on set-pieces, they have been all season. “So you know that the game is always in the balance but that fighting mentality, we showed it on Thursday night, we showed it again today, and we’ll need it for every game between now and the end of the season, that’s for sure.” Celtic received their second red card in as many matches when Austin Trusty was sent down the tunnel after a VAR review with Celtic leading 2-1. McGregor feels that there would be less questions being asked had official Steven McLean shown the red initially, rather than having his decision being overturned. “It’s probably one if he gives a red off the bat, you’re probably not too surprised. “But when he gives the yellow, I think the only question is ‘is that an obvious enough error to then go to the monitor?’, I’m not sure.” There has been speculation surrounding the midfielder’s future at Parkhead, with reports linking him away with an astonishing reunion with former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers in Saudi Arabia. When quizzed on the rumours, McGregor was straight to the point. “No, no. I’m here.” The 32-year-old rarely made media appearances throughout the ill-fated reign of axed gaffer Wilfried Nancy, and conceded that it has been a more ‘struggling’ period as a Celtic player for him. “It’s certainly not been easy, but I don’t think that’s been the case for anyone. “When you’ve been so successful and you win so much and then you go through a spell where you’re sort of struggling and the team are struggling, then of course it’s difficult. “But that’s gone now, we have to draw a line under it and move forward, and I think the reaction again since Martin [O’Neill] and Shaun [Maloney] and Fozzy [Mark Fotheringham] and the guys that have come back in has been first class. “It’s now about what we do between now and the end of the season.” Celtic face FC Utrecht of The Netherlands this Thursday in the Europa League knowing that a win guarantees them a spot in the next round of the competition. Their next domestic encounter takes place at Celtic Park on Sunday in the form of John McGlynn’s Falkirk.
