However, Ibrox boss Philippe Clement has revealed they could be without Sima. They’re not quite sure about how long he will be out for but believe he has some part to play in May, he just doesn’t know when. Last week the Belgian said it would be at least a couple of weeks for recovery.

Before Celtic get to the Glasgow Derby they have Hearts at home, a club that has beaten them twice already this season. If they want to be in a good position themselves going into that game, nothing else but a win will help their cause.

The bhoys in green are hopeful they will have Daizen Maeda back for the run-in and the Japanese star is expected back in training this week. Whether he gets a start against Hearts remains to be seen.

The last Glasgow Derby ended 3-3. Gers fans went into that game very confident and by the end of the tie they were delighted they had managed to steal a draw.

The game at Celtic Park will be highly contested, and if the bhoys are to lift the league, they need to go and win the next two games!

Football is a broad church and brings out all sorts of different faiths, beliefs and superstitions. After the Celtic support were put through the mill on Saturday afternoon and penalties commenced, even atheists in the crowd might have looked to the heavens for a helping hand!

The clip zoomed in shows the supporter blessing himself and obviously negotiating with the big man upstairs before the ball left the penalty spot.

Joe managed to save it and, in doing so, won the game for Celtic. The fan in question might have just thought his prayer had been answered!

Fucking buckled at the fan in background blessing himself before Joe Hart saves the penalty 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Uyt6x8sFt2

— amc (@AMC__88) April 22, 2024

Celtic fell behind against Aberdeen early on but managed to pull themselves 2-1 in front and looked to be heading for the final. Aberdeen had different plans and scored a late goal to take the game into extra time. Again Celtic took the lead, but with very little time remaining on the clock, the Dons hit back once again, refusing to leave the Hampden stage without a fight.

Penalties it was, and when Celtic took the initiative, Joe Hart shocked everyone in attendance by taking the 5th penalty for the Hoops. The Englishman missed his chance to be the hero from the spot, but he redeemed himself on the goal line. Perhaps with a little help from above!

This display, set against the backdrop of flares and pyrotechnics from the stands, sent a clear message of support. Celtic would score all their goals after the break in a 3-0 win, an own goal to kick things off then Paulo Bernardo’s second-half strike further cemented the victory, before Matt O’Riley got in on the act.

This win was especially significant as it means Celtic head to Ibrox next week top of the league, Rangers securing a 3-1 victory over Hibs the day before. The call to action from the supporters was unmistakable – they wanted their team to continue the fight for the Premiership title and that’s what they managed to do in the second half.

When the bhoys came out for the second half. 🔥🍀 pic.twitter.com/C7ObHZsnce

— Craig (@CraigCelt) March 31, 2024

The team’s recent performances have been buoyed by the return of key players from injuries, notably CCV and Reo Hatate, providing a significant lift. The presence of Celtic fans in three stands at Livingston, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a home game was a major plus. Next week at Ibrox, there will be zero Celtic fans in the building and the team must do it on their own.

With lyrics from the song “Freedom’s Sons,” the banner read: “Born into slavery, they were freedom’s sons.”

With today’s game taking place on Easter Sunday, a number of supporters have paid recognition to the Easter Rising in Ireland, which took place from April 24th to 29th, 1916.

With Celtic’s significant historic connection to Ireland, it’s clear to see why some felt the need to mark the occasion pre-match.

Celtic supporters have certainly been in fine voice in the first half, with the atmosphere heightened by the traveling support.

Livingston away historically marks an occasion for as many Celtic fans as possible to pack the Almondvale Stadium in West Lothian, and today has been no different so far.

In a stadium where Celtic have at times struggled over the years, they will need as much support as possible, and that is clearly what they are being given.

The atmosphere since Rangers cut Celtic’s allocation and the subsequent safety issues meant derbies became an all-home support affair, hasn’t been the same.

Well, there’s some good news…

CeltsAreHere can confirm the return of significant numbers of away supporters to both Ibrox and Celtic Park from next season marks a watershed moment for the fixture.

For several years, the atmosphere at these clashes has been dampened, a casualty of decisions taken in a board room. Rangers’ move to limit Celtic’s presence at Ibrox to a scant 700 supporters, confining them to a minor segment of the stadium, was a blow to the derby’s passion and appeal. The aftermath of this decision saw Celtic reciprocate, leading to a period where the absence of substantial away support became the unfortunate norm.

The scars from these decisions ran deep, with Celtic cutting the entire 700 allocation after Celtic fans were injured in the corner of Ibrox. In the shadows of these events, it was always Celtic pushing for change, advocating behind the scenes for the return of meaningful numbers of away fans and enhanced safety measures. The stance by Rangers, as articulated by CEO James Bisgrove, that Celtic would not see an increased allocation in the foreseeable future, now rings hollow.

The agreement is to allocate 5% of tickets is a directive pushed by the SPFL from UEFA, but CeltsAreHere understands both sets of clubs will enjoy around 2500 briefs for these games give or take.

The new agreement won’t take effect until next season. So we will get some semblance of the atmosphere back many of us have bemoaned.

The road to this point has been fraught, marked by negotiations and challenges. Yet, the outcome heralds a return to the days when the roar of the away supporters contributed to the unforgettable cacophony that is the Glasgow Derby.

Before then, there’s the small matter of a hostile trip to Ibrox with none of our fans in the building and vice versa after the split.

While he’s buoyed by his squad’s return without any new injuries, there’s a palpable sense of frustration over how Greg Taylor and Anthony Ralston were utilised—or, more accurately, not utilised—by Scotland manager Steve Clarke during the break.

Taylor found himself benched for both matches against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland, while Ralston played only a minor role, overshadowed by Nathan Patterson’s selection as the preferred right wingback.

This decision has sparked debate, particularly after Patterson’s performance against the Irish, which included a costly mistake directly leading to the only goal of the match.

Peter Grant expressed his view on The Go Radio Football Show, spotlighting Ralston’s defensive quality over Patterson’s and advocating for Ralston’s inclusion in future line-ups, over the former Ibrox stars.

He said: “I think Tony Ralston, you need competitors, you need people to go and run, people who can defend, I think he’s a better defender than Patterson.

“Better defender, but Patterson is probably better going the opposite way. And that’s the only question mark I would have between the two on who would go [to the Euros] as well or would he take both even though Hickey is there.”

With 27 goals across all competitions this season, it’s no wonder that former Celtic star Peter Grant sees Szmodics as a potential transfer target for Celtic. However, Grant cautions that acquiring such a talent won’t come cheap.

The buzz around Szmodics has grown, with reports linking him to a move to Celtic Park.

Yet, Grant, speaking on Go Radio, highlighted the financial implications of securing a player of Szmodics’ calibre, suggesting that a transfer fee could reach upwards of £10 million, given his current contract situation with Blackburn Rovers, which extends for another two years.

“He’s not a striker; he scores a hell of a lot of goals, I seen him as a youngster before he got his move to Peterborough, at Colchester, and I was really impressed with him

“I like going to games and not knowing who the personnel are. Some people jump out at you, and he jumped out at me, and I thought ‘, this kid can play’, and then not long after that, he went to Peterborough.

“He’s a goal threat, he scored goals, the Championship is a really difficult league, and if you’re not playing with one of the top sides, it’s even harder, and he’s constantly scored goals. He’s just a good footballer above anything else with an eye for a goal, a very good eye for a goal in big moments.”

“(He’s) anybody’s type of player really, anybody who can score goals. If he’s still in contract, he’ll cost a pretty penny; anyone who scores goals in the Championship will cost a right few bob anyway.”

Pressed on a potential price tag, Grant said: “Nearly £10 million.”

On the face of it, the potential transfer looks like it could be a huge acquisition from the Hoops. He’s clearly a quality player, but whether Celtic will be looking to spend that sort of money this summer on multiple players remains unanswered.

Rodgers, who criticised the officiating and the use of VAR following Celtic’s match against Hearts, described the decisions as “incompetent” and lamented the overreach of VAR in re-refereeing the game.

Walker stresses that the narrative surrounding Rodgers’ comments and subsequent ban has overshadowed a crucial conversation about the role and effectiveness of VAR within the league.

The technology, intended to assist referees in making more accurate decisions, is under scrutiny for its intrusive application, often intervening without clear and obvious errors by the on-field officials.

Walker expressed his perspective on Go Radio, stating, “This whole one or two game ban, it’s a non-story. There’s a much bigger picture about VAR and the use of VAR. Celtic, it would have been great if they’d come out and said they were going to have a meeting with all the clubs, and the SFA, and the head of referees, and try to make things better.

“If you remember recently, all the clubs were concerned about the handballs. It seemed to work really well for a month or six weeks, and then we’ve gone back and simplified it. And we’ve gone back to the madness. That, in my view, is the much bigger story.”

What happened in the SFA meeting today will probably never be disclosed, but going by Celtic’s earlier statement, the club went in prepared with plenty of evidence to back their stance.

Currently leading Rangers by a slender one-point margin, Celtic could potentially find themselves playing catch-up by kick-off on Sunday, depending on Rangers’ result against Hibernian the day before. Nonetheless, victory at the Tony Macaroni Arena would set Celtic up with the tantalising prospect of pulling four points clear of their rivals with a win at Ibrox the following week.

While the attention of many may already be drifting towards the next week’s showdown with Rangers, the immediate focus remains squarely on overcoming Livingston. This match is as pivotal as any in the quest for the Premiership title, emphasizing the need for undivided concentration and commitment.

Celtic’s last meeting with Livingston in the Scottish Cup, just two matches ago, showcased some great attacking play, with Daizen Maeda’s hat-trick and Kyogo Furuhashi’s late goal securing a 4-2 victory. However, it also exposed defensive vulnerabilities, something Brendan Rodgers is keen to address.

In his comments looking ahead to the match, Rodgers highlighted the need for a more disciplined performance.

He told Celtic TV: “We played Livingston only recently. Attacking-wise, we were very good in the game, but we gave too much away for my liking.

“So our mentality and focus is to go and play to the level of game that we want to play, but making sure that we don’t give much up in terms of opportunities and space. If we can do that, then we can have a very good day hopefully.

“Obviously, with Livingston being at home and on the astroturf pitch, they’ll maybe be more accustomed to that.

“Whatever team David Martindale puts out, they are normally battling and working very, very hard. We have seen that. They are a big physical team that play to their strengths and can play to their strengths well.

“But really, we have to control our game. Our focus is very much on playing in our rhythm and in our way. If we can do that, then we will be able to give the opposition more issues and more to think about.”

Anticipation is building for the team news, with fans eagerly awaiting updates on key players. Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, and Liam Scales are all in contention to return to the squad, providing a timely boost. Meanwhile, the participation of Cameron Carter-Vickers is under scrutiny, given the artificial surface at Livingston and the looming Glasgow Derby.