Scottish Premiership: Will Celtic or Rangers win the title? Who will finish in the top-six? How will the relegation battle go? | Football News
Most clubs have just 12 matches to go and there is still plenty to decide right across the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic lead defending champions Rangers by one point – following their 3-0 Old Firm win after the winter break – in a battle that could go into the final rounds of the season.
While Hearts are in pole position to finish third, the race for the final top-six spots are up for grabs, with fourth to 10th separated by just six points, and only one between the bottom two.
Here, we assess the main battles from across the top-flight and look at the fixtures that matter until the end of the season…
The table…
The fixtures…
Title race
Rangers came back from the winter break with a six-point advantage over Celtic, however, Ange Postecoglou’s side are now a point ahead of their rivals with 12 games to go.
February’s Old Firm win at Celtic Park was a significant night in this title race but Rangers responded with convincing wins over Hearts and Hibernian to keep the pressure on in the battle for top spot.
Both clubs have new signings, including the likes of Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, Aaron Ramsey and Amad Diallo to help with their push for the trophy.
The pride of being crowned champions will be more than enough for the fans, but this season’s Premiership title comes with an even bigger prize. A place in the Champions League is all but guaranteed. With that comes a cash injection of £30m and rising.
There’s little, if any, margin for error over the coming weeks for both clubs so strap yourself in for a battle that could go down to the final weekend of the season.
Celtic
Callum McGregor captained Celtic to victory at Aberdeen
Position: 1st
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 2.42
Current league form: WWWWWW
Next league fixture: Dundee (h)
Title Sky Bet odds: 1/2
Key pre-split fixtures to note: Feb 27: Hibs (a), Mar 6: Livingston (a), Apr 3: Rangers (a)
Rangers
Rangers have won back-to-back home games after their Old Firm defeat
Position: 2nd
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 2.38
Current league form: DWDLWW
Next league fixture: Dundee Utd (a)
Title Sky Bet odds: 6/4
Key pre-split fixtures to note: Feb 20: Dundee Utd (a), Feb 27: Motherwell (h), Mar 5: Aberdeen (h), Apr 3: Celtic (h)
Top-six battle
While Hearts are favourites to finish behind the Old Firm, Dundee United, Motherwell, St Mirren, Hibernian, Livingston, Aberdeen and Ross County will all have an eye on finishing in the top half of the table.
Just six points separate the clubs so who will seal a place in the top-six?
Hearts
Hearts are pushing for a third placed finish in their first season back in the Scottish Premiership
Position: 3rd
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 1.65
Current league form: WLWDLL
Next league fixture: St Johnstone (a)
Top six Sky Bet odds: 1/1000
Dundee Utd
Tony Watt scored against Motherwell to lift Dundee United above his former club in the table
Position: 4th
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 1.26
Current league form: LWLDDW
Next league fixture: Rangers (h)
Top six Sky Bet odds: 11/8
Motherwell
Motherwell are without a win in their last six games
Position: 5th
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 1.26
Current league form: LDLDLL
Next league fixture: Aberdeen (h)
Top six Sky Bet odds: 1/2
St Mirren
St Mirren just missed out on a top-six finish last season
Position: 6th
Games played: 25
Points Per Game: 1.28
Current league form: LWWDWW
Next league fixture: Livingston (a)
Top six Sky Bet odds: 1/1
Hibernian
Hibernian boss Shaun Maloney admits results must improve but thinks his side can finish in the top-four
Position: 7th
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 1.19
Current league form: LDLDLL
Next league fixture: Ross County (h)
Top six Sky Bet odds: 4/9
Aberdeen
Aberdeen are without a Scottish Premiership win in 2022
Position: 8th
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 1.15
Current league form: DLDLLD
Next league fixture: Motherwell (a)
Top six Sky Bet odds: 4/5
Livingston
Livingston finished in the top-six last season
Position: 9th
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 1.15
Current league form: WLWLWD
Next league fixture: St Mirren (h)
Top six Sky Bet odds: 11/4
Ross County
Malky Mackay is guiding Ross County further away from relegation danger
Position: 10th
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 1.03
Current league form: WLDDWD
Next league fixture: Hibs (a)
Top six Sky Bet odds: 20/1
Who could go down?
St Johnstone find themselves in the unenviable position of being bottom – a surprise to many after winning a historic League Cup and Scottish Cup double last season.
Scoring goals has been a problem for the Perth club, with just 11 coming in their first 20 matches.
Four in six have been scored following the break and manager Callum Davidson will hope a number of his January arrivals will help move his team up the table.
Lying just one point above them are Dundee, who only returned to the Premiership this season.
The Dens Park club made signings of their own in January and will be hoping Scotland under-21 international Zak Rudden, along with experienced players like captain Charlie Adam and Paul McGowan, can fire them to safety.
Finishing 11th will be the minimum aim for both teams, but a tricky relegation play-off final – live on Sky Sports – would still lie in store.
Dundee
Dundee picked up what could be a crucial win at Hearts
Position: 11th
Games played: 25
Points Per Game: 0.84
Current league form: LLDDLW
Next league fixture: Celtic (a)
To finish bottom Sky Bet odds: 10/11
St Johnstone
St Johnstone remain rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership
Position: 12th
Games played: 26
Points Per Game: 0.77
Current league form: LDWDLD
Next league fixture: Hearts (h)
To finish bottom Sky Bet odds: 11/10
The games coming up live on Sky Sports
Further dates, kick-off times and television details to be confirmed – all fixtures subject to change.
Sunday February 20
Dundee United vs Rangers – Kick-off 12 noon
Sunday February 27
Hibernian vs Celtic – Kick-off 12 noon
Wednesday March 2
St Johnstone v Rangers – Kick-off 7.45pm
Sunday March 6
Livingston v Celtic – Kick-off 12 noon
Sunday March 20
Dundee v Rangers – Kick-off 12 noon
Sunday April 3
Rangers vs Celtic – Kick-off 12 noon
Sunday April 10
St Mirren v Rangers – Kick-off 12 noon
