Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers feels they are going into Saturday’s Hampden showdown with unbeaten Aberdeen in ideal shape after a good day on and off the park for his squad.
Second-half goals from Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels kept Celtic on top of the William Hill Premiership thanks to a 2-0 home win over Dundee.
Celtic were without the injured Callum McGregor, Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah but all three are expected to be fit to face the Dons in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals, with the latter getting good news from a scan on the ankle injury he suffered at Motherwell on Sunday.
“All three will be fine,” Rodgers said. “Nicolas Kuhn had a sore hip after the game at the weekend. But he trained earlier, so that was good. Callum as well, and Adam also. We’ll see their reaction. Hopefully, it will be all right.
“I think he’s got away with one there, Adam. He’s still a bit sore, a bit swollen, but the medical team tell me he’s done a bit of work. So, hopefully no reaction to it.”
Both Celtic and Aberdeen moved nine points ahead of Rangers after the Dons beat the Light Blues 2-1 at Pittodrie.
When asked if he was surprised it was Jimmy Thelin’s side and not Rangers who were proving to be their main challengers, Rodgers said: “Listen, Aberdeen have had a fantastic start. That’s a really good result for them. But as I’m sure you can respect, my focus is very much on Celtic.
“Our guys have made a brilliant start also, in terms of how they’ve been playing, the goals they’ve been scoring, secure defensively in the main and in a really good position in the Champions League.
“But it’s still so early. My first marker is after 10 games. And if I look at it after 10 games, then we’ve made a really good start. Aberdeen are there as well, but there’s still such a long way to go.
“I love going to Hampden and we’re in a really good place arriving into there. We’ve got players coming back and hopefully it’ll be a really exciting game.”
Rodgers made six changes for Dundee’s visit and was pleased with the outcome.
“It’s one of those ones where you can be more comfortable in the game if you get those early goals with two massive chances in that first period of the game,” he said.
“But it was job done. We controlled the game, created chances, should have had more goals and didn’t concede. So we have to be happy.”
Dundee manager Tony Docherty felt his side were harshly treated by referee Ross Hardie and his VAR team after conceding a penalty for a foul on Kyogo Furuhashi from Antonio Portales.
The visitors claimed Arne Engels had pulled Mohamad Sylla before breaking and playing the ball through for the Japan striker.
“I thought the boys deserved a clean sheet for the amount of work they put in out of possession,” he said.
“I think the penalty is really soft. I think there’s a foul that leads up to it on Mo Sylla. I don’t know why they don’t pick that up. I’ve seen it back.”
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
