Scottish Premiership opening weekend preview: Rangers begin title defence against Livingston, Celtic at Hearts | Football News

Group information and stats for the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership video games as Livingston go to champions Rangers, whereas Celtic journey to Hearts.

Rangers vs Livingston – Saturday, kick-off 1.30pm, live on Sky Sports

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Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos is in quarantine after getting back from an prolonged shut season in Colombia.

Ryan Jack is awaiting the inexperienced mild from a specialist to renew full-contact coaching following a calf harm.

Rangers will assess the health of their Euro 2020 gamers however reported no different absentees after Kemar Roofe and Joe Aribo sat out latest friendlies.

Livingston midfielder Marvin Bartley is suspended for the journey to face Rangers at Ibrox.

The participant/assistant supervisor has a two-match ban carried over from final season, however has not featured within the Premier Sports activities Cup anyway.

Livi will carefully monitor the health of a number of gamers following their Covid-19 issues and a few might be given extra time to return.

Saturday thirty first July 12:30pm


Kick off 1:30pm

Opta stats

• Rangers will kick off a season as defending Scottish champions for the primary time since 2011-12, which was additionally the final time that Scottish top-flight matches had been performed within the month of July. The Gers drew their opening sport of that marketing campaign 1-1 at house to Hearts underneath Ally McCoist, coming from behind within the match due to Steven Naismith’s equaliser.
• Rangers have received eight of their final 9 league conferences with Livingston (D1) since a 0-1 defeat in September 2018, their first such match in opposition to them underneath Steven Gerrard.
• Livingston have failed to attain in every of their final six league matches in opposition to Rangers (D1 L5). Certainly, they’ve managed simply 33 photographs throughout these video games (5.5 per sport), with solely seven of those on track (1.2 per sport), whereas these photographs mixed to only 3.0 Anticipated Targets (0.5 xG per sport).

Easy methods to watch: Watch Rangers vs Livingston dwell on Sky Sports activities Soccer from 12.30pm; kick-off 1.30pm. Our dwell match weblog – on the Sky Sports activities web site and app – may even carry you all of the motion because it occurs and free match highlights might be printed on the Sky Sports activities web site, app and YouTube channel later that night.

Dundee vs St Mirren – Saturday, kick-off 3pm

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Dundee’s choice issues have eased forward of their cinch Premiership return.

One unnamed participant stays out for the go to of St Mirren after catching Covid-19. However 5 gamers who had been recognized as potential shut contacts have been cleared to play.

Charlie Adam (calf) and Liam Fontaine (hamstring) are anticipated to make the sport.

However Alex Jakubiak (hamstring) and Cammy Kerr (knee) look set to overlook out for James McPake’s aspect.

St Mirren have a full invoice of well being for the journey to Tayside.

Opta stats

• This might be Dundee’s first Scottish Premiership marketing campaign since 2018-19; in addition they confronted St. Mirren on the opening day of that season, shedding 1-2.
• St. Mirren misplaced none of their 4 league conferences with Dundee the final season wherein they confronted within the Scottish Premiership (2018-19), successful three and drawing one.
• Solely two of the final 13 newly-promoted golf equipment have misplaced their opening league match of a Scottish top-flight season (W4 D7), with Hamilton taking place 0-2 to Inverness in 2014-15 and Livingston shedding 1-3 at Celtic in 2018-19.

Easy methods to watch: Free match highlights might be printed on the Sky Sports activities web site, app and YouTube channel later within the night.

Ross County vs St Johnstone – Saturday, kick-off 3pm

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Austrian midfielder David Cancola must anticipate his Ross County debut.

County start their cinch Premiership marketing campaign in opposition to St Johnstone on Saturday however the brand new signing from Slovan Liberec is in quarantine till Monday.

County have been attempting to type a mortgage deal for Arsenal defender Harry Clarke.

Chris Kane is unlikely to start out for St Johnstone.

The striker has not had the identical sport time as his team-mates throughout pre-season.

Nevertheless, Kane may characteristic from the bench in Dingwall.

Opta stats

• Ross County have solely loved one win of their final 11 league conferences with St. Johnstone (D7 L3), a 1-0 triumph underneath Stuart Kettlewell in September 2020.
• St. Johnstone are unbeaten in eight league visits to Ross County (D4 L4) since a 1-0 defeat in April 2015. Every of their final 4 such journeys, nonetheless, have completed in a rating draw.
• Ross County have received every of their final three Scottish Premiership matches performed on MD1, beating Dundee in 2017-18, Hamilton in 2018-19 and Motherwell final season. The Staggies had misplaced every of their earlier 4 season openers earlier than this.

Easy methods to watch: Free match highlights might be printed on the Sky Sports activities web site, app and YouTube channel later within the night.

Hearts vs Celtic – Saturday – Saturday, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports

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New arrival Beni Baningime may begin for Hearts of their cinch Premiership opener in opposition to Celtic.

The midfielder skilled with Hearts on Thursday and Friday and might be within the squad for Saturday’s sport.

John Souttar is ready to characteristic after lacking the cup win over Inverness as a precaution.

Swedish defender Carl Starfelt is within the Celtic squad after finishing his quarantine interval.

Fellow new signing Kyogo Furuhashi is predicted to reach this weekend however is unlikely to play.

Leigh Griffiths (calf) stays out however Nir Bitton is again from a European ban.

Saturday thirty first July 7:30pm


Kick off 8:00pm

Opta stats

• Hearts will open a Scottish Premiership season in opposition to Celtic for the third time for the reason that competitors was rebranded in 2013, shedding each earlier such conferences (1-2 in 2016-17 and 1-4 in 2017-18).
• Celtic have received every of their final six league conferences with Hearts, scoring not less than twice in every such victory.
• Solely two of the final 13 newly-promoted golf equipment have misplaced their opening league match of a Scottish top-flight season (W4 D7), with Hamilton taking place 0-2 to Inverness in 2014-15 and Livingston shedding 1-3 at Celtic in 2018-19.

Easy methods to watch: Watch Hearts vs Celtic dwell on Sky Sports activities Soccer from 7.30pm; kick-off 8pm. Our dwell match weblog – on the Sky Sports activities web site and app – may even carry you all of the motion because it occurs and free match highlights might be printed on the Sky Sports activities web site, app and YouTube channel later that night.

Aberdeen vs Dundee United – Sunday, kick-off 3pm

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Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is ready to be match for Aberdeen’s cinch Premiership opener at house to Dundee United on Sunday.

The summer season recruit from Livingston sustained a nasty facial gash throughout Thursday’s Europa Convention League qualifier at BK Hacken, however the ahead is predicted to get well in time for this weekend.

Teenager Dean Campbell sat out the journey to Gothenburg as a result of a training-ground knock and might be assessed forward of the league opener at Pittodrie.

Dundee United supervisor Tam Courts reported a clear invoice of well being for his first league match in cost.

Opta stats

• There have been simply seven objectives within the final eight Scottish Premiership conferences between Aberdeen and Dundee United, with their three such clashes final season seeing only one purpose scored – Adrian Sporle’s winner for the Tangerines in March.
• Aberdeen and Dundee United final confronted off on MD1 of a league season in 2015-16, with the Dons successful 1-0, whereas they final did so at Pittodrie in 2014-15, which the Tangerines received 3-0.
• For a fifth consecutive season, Aberdeen will play at house on the opening weekend; they misplaced their season opener 1-0 to Rangers final time period, whereas they have not completed so in back-to-back league campaigns since a run of three in a row from 2007-08 to 2009-10 – a streak which included defeat to Dundee United (in 2007-08).

Easy methods to watch: Free match highlights might be printed on the Sky Sports activities web site, app and YouTube channel later within the night.

Motherwell vs Hibernian – Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports

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Motherwell will assess the health of recent signing Juhani Ojala forward of the cinch Premiership opener in opposition to Hibernian.

The Finland defender was in quarantine forward of his signing on Thursday.

Bevis Mugabi has skilled this week following shoulder surgical procedure however may need to attend for his first look of the season whereas Liam Grimshaw, Connor Shields and Mark O’Hara stay on the sidelines.

Hibernian hope to have Scott Allan again for the journey to Lanarkshire.

The midfielder missed the midweek European win over Santa Coloma with a slight harm.

Joe Newell returns from suspension for the league opener.

Sunday 1st August 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

Opta stats

• Motherwell, who received their final league assembly with Hibernian 2-0 in February final season, final received back-to-back top-flight matches in opposition to Hibs in November 2013 underneath Stuart McCall (4 in a row).
• Hibernian wish to choose up back-to-back away top-flight wins at Motherwell for the primary time since September 2009, having received their final such go to 3-0 in December final season.
• Motherwell have didn’t win their opening match in every of the final 4 league seasons (D1 L3) since a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock on MD1 in 2016-17.

Easy methods to watch: Watch Motherwell vs Hibernian dwell on Sky Sports activities Soccer from 4pm; kick-off 4.30pm. Our dwell match weblog – on the Sky Sports activities web site and app – may even carry you all of the motion because it occurs and free match highlights might be printed on the Sky Sports activities web site, app and YouTube channel later that night.

Key dates in the Scottish Premiership 2021/22 season

The Scottish Premiership will kick off on the weekend of Saturday July 31 and Sunday August 1.

The highest-flight will as soon as once more take a winter break from Monday January 3 till Wednesday January 26.

After 33 video games, the league splits into two sections of six groups, with every crew enjoying one another in that part.

The 2021/22 Scottish Premiership season with Sky Sports activities

• As much as 48 dwell matches from the Scottish Premiership, together with each Previous Agency encounter.
• Dwell protection introduced by Eilidh Barbour with evaluation from Kris Boyd and Andy Walker, and extra.
• Round the clock protection on Sky Sports activities Information, on skysports.com and throughout our Sky Sports activities social channels.
• Devoted Scottish Premiership highlights present each week and free-to-watch highlights of each Scottish Premiership sport on our web site.
• Perception and evaluation from our Scottish Football Podcast.