Rangers 3-0 Celtic: Can Philippe Clement's side build on inflicting Brendan Rodgers' first defeat of season?
Rangers claimed their first win against Celtic since May 2023 but are still 11 points behind their Old Firm rivals in the Scottish Premiership; watch Hibernian vs Rangers on Sunday live on Sky Sports Football from 11am, kick-off 12pm
Saturday 4 January 2025 13:51, UK
Rangers were depleted but it was a victory they deserved against a Celtic side who, until kick-off, looked unbeatable in the Scottish Premiership.
Philippe Clement ended his Old Firm hoodoo with a result he felt they also deserved in last month's League Cup final, but how much can they make it count going into the second half of the season?
Celtic had been rampant but they came to a shuddering halt at Ibrox as they failed to show any of the tempo and desire that has propelled them into a commanding lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
- Rangers stun Celtic with Old Firm win to ease pressure on Clement
- Stream Scottish Premiership and more with NOW
- Get Sky Sports | Download the Sky Sports App
- Free-to-watch Scottish Premiership highlights
While a title challenge may still be out of Rangers' reach, will this be a result that transforms their season? And will Brendan Rodgers recover instantly after his first defeat of the season and his second ever in an Old Firm game?
Boyd: Rangers must back this up
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd on Sky Sports:
Trending
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Trent, Rashford, Olmo latest
- Liverpool latest: 'Alexander-Arnold offered £78m deal to stay'
- Man Utd latest: Players are 'anxious' and 'afraid' - Amorim
- Papers: Juventus weighing up Malacia move
- VOTE: Should Pedro's penalty have been given? Reaction & highlights
- 'Never seen it in my life' - Arteta baffled as Brighton pen costs Arsenal
- Arsenal latest: Arteta reveals Nwaneri injury fears
- PL Predictions: Expect the unexpected... Man Utd to win at Anfield?
- 'You don't often see that!' | Pedro scores equaliser from 'unusual' penalty
- Hits & Misses: Who impressed Tuchel on his whistle-stop Premier League tour?
"Away from home, Rangers have been nowhere near good enough. Ibrox has not been the problem, European football on Thursday nights has not been the problem. It's been away from home that has cost Rangers so far this season.
"We've seen performances like this but they have to back this up. They will be at Easter Road, Dens Park the following week. These are the games that will tell us more.
"I can enjoy tonight but then I think the reality will set in that you're still 11 points behind, but taking nothing away from Rangers I thought to a man they were excellent today.
"They asked players to come in, we said at the top of the show there might be an opportunity for players who hadn't been playing to come in and stake a claim - I thought Ridvan Yilmaz was excellent, I thought Dujon Sterling and Robin Propper played like proper defenders - alright they weren't asked a lot by Celtic - and Jefte was up and down all day.
"Nicolas Raskin was outstanding, Vaclav Cerny and Ianis Hagi with that little bit of quality. It's a good day for Rangers but you then think to yourself where has this team been? We have seen it in glimpses."
Lennon: Celtic thrashing like a 'clip around the ear'
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon on Sky Sports:
"The key is whether this is a catalyst for a good second half of the season for Rangers. Let's get it right, the first half of the season was nowhere near good enough. That performance today was excellent from the goalkeeper through to the striker.
"They created a lot of chances and there was a flow to them, but it's one game. The key now is if they can go to Easter Road on Sunday and have the same mindset to be consistent to close the gap on Celtic.
"For Celtic, this will be a clip around the ear and they will go again. There was a bit of apathy going into this game but the Rangers fans will go away delighted by what they've seen today.
"From Celtic's point of view, it's a reset."
Sutton: Celtic will find their form again
Former Celtic forward Chris Sutton on Sky Sports:
"Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for Celtic. It's difficult to sustain the winning run they have been on. We take it for granted and Celtic, bar the Dortmund game, have been exceptional.
"Where would Celtic want to be? Eleven points is an enormous gap. It was an off-day today and eventually, they will find their form again."
Rangers and Celtic condemn coin-throwing
Police Scotland are investigating the incident at Ibrox when Celtic substitute Arne Engels was struck by a coin.
It took place towards the end of Rangers' victory, with the midfielder struck just above the eye as he prepared to take a corner.
The coin was immediately passed onto a police officer by referee Don Robertson.
A Rangers spokesman said: "Rangers FC condemns this incident in the strongest possible terms.
"The club can confirm it will assist Police Scotland with their investigation."
Police Scotland said "enquiries are ongoing" into the matter, while Celtic said they were "appalled" by the behaviour.
"We understand that police Scotland are currently investigating two separate incidents," a Celtic spokesperson added.
"The repeated targeting of our players and staff with missiles is quite appalling and completely unacceptable."