Philippe Clement, Makenzie Kirk and Dundee Utd v Celtic in focus
Will Sunday be a happy anniversary for Manchester United?
It’s been almost a decade since Celtic last lost to Tannadice, when goals from Nadir Siftchi and Stuart Armstrong (both of whom will go on to feature for the visitors) put United at the top of the table Leigh Griffiths was on course for victory before a belated response.
That was on Sunday 21st December 2014 and since then Tannadice has been a happy hunting ground for the Glasgow side who are unbeaten on 11 visits there, winning their last 5 games Played 7 games and scored 18 goals.
Half of that was a famous win in August 2022, with forward Kyogo Furuhashi scoring a hat-trick, one of five survivors from that day’s starting line-up still with the team.
Celtic won their 53rd Scottish League title that season and can focus on cementing their place in the Premier League after claiming their first trophy of the season in Sunday’s League Cup final against Rangers. Pole position for the season.
Brendan Rodgers’ side arrive on Tayside for their first meeting of the season with United, who are unbeaten in 15 games since being beaten 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Seven games were played at Celtic Park.
This was their only loss in 25 games this season.
With second-placed Aberdeen and Rangers both at home on Saturday, Celtic may find their lead has shrunk in the midday kick-off but there is no sign this season that the pressure has been there . Any repercussions – on Rodgers’ side.
9 points ahead of Dons and 2 points ahead of their city rivals. In any case, they have enough room to strive for ten consecutive away league wins.
In fact, the Celtics are off to the league’s best start to a season with a 14-1 record after 15 games, matching the 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2016-17 seasons.
They are also unbeaten in 19 games against Manchester United, who lost 4-3 at Motherwell on Saturday to relinquish fourth place to the hosts.
However, the visit to Tannadice should still be one of Celtic’s toughest domestic tests, with Jim Goodwin’s newly promoted side heading into that Motherwell game on a five-game unbeaten run .
