There’s nothing in football quite like when the green and white hoops of Celtic face-off against the light blue shirts of Rangers. That’s true whenever they meet but never more so than this Sunday when they go head-to-head in a massive Scottish Cup semi-final that will go a long way towards deciding who has the bragging rights between two sets of supporters throughout the summer ahead.

Celtic are unbeaten in domestic competition this season and go into the match-up as hot favourites, despite only drawing with Rangers in the last meeting between two sides.

In fact, almost all of the matches between the two this season have been close and while the 5-1 thrashing of Rangers lives long in the memory of everyone, it is in fact the anomaly in recent history of the fixture.

Brendan Rodgers and his side can have no complacency about this one and we’re sure they’ll treat Rangers with more respect than most sides they’ve come up against season.

How do they ensure they live up to the favourites tag and get the win?

This is how we see the Hoops getting the job done…

The Big Selection Calls: Forrest & Sviatchenko out, Roberts & Boyata in

It’s vitally important Brendan Rodgers gets his team selection spot on this Sunday and while the majority of the starting XI almost picks itself, for us the big calls revolve around four players.

James Forrest has had a consistent enough season but we reckon switching in Patrick Roberts in his place is the way to go at Hampden. The wide open expanse of the national stadium suits the tricky Roberts, who will fancy his chances of exposing the inexperienced Myles Beerman at left-back. Beerman has performed admirably for the Light Blues since coming into the team and may even cope well against the pace of Forrest. However, up against the skilful Englishman, that lack of experience could be exposed. Roberts has actually made more direct goal contributions to Celtic this season than Forrest despite playing way less and the scene is set for him to put in one of the last big performances for the Hoops before heading back to Manchester City.

Erik Sviatchenko has been shaky in the Hoops backline for a while now and again against Ross County last weekend didn’t look at his best. His distribution was below par and he was caught underneath the ball to allow County to equalise the first time. Dedryck Boyata has been mostly solid since returning to a regular appearance for Celtic and alongside Jozo Simunovic should have enough about him to shut out the Gers.

The Threat: Kenny Miller

Kenny Miller has been a thorn in Celtic’s side for decades and loves scoring in this fixture, even netting for Celtic against Rangers once upon a time.

He’s the big threat that Rangers hold in front of goal this Sunday. Recently against Aberdeen at Pittodrie we saw again that if given a sniff, he’ll take a chance, especially when the pressure is on and the eyes of Scotland is on the fixture. He loves to turn it on, on the big occasion and if Brendan Rodgers can build a game plan to ensure he is snuffed out across the 90 minutes, Rangers don’t have many other options that they can comfortably rely on to find the net.

Martyn Waghorn has been inconsistent, scoring mostly from penalties. Joe Garner has not lived up to his price tag last summer. Even Barrie McKay has been off the boil for months now.

Miller is the one man you feel can get something against this Celtic side and the Hoops must be very aware of that or risk having to score a few to get the result they so desperately want.

The Key: Tom Rogic

Missing for the last two derbies between the two sides, Tom Rogic is again fit and available for selection this Sunday. Getting a starting spot is not guaranteed with the likes of Callum McGregor in good form and Brendan Rodgers perhaps preferring a more defensive minded midfield but we reckon, if given the opportunity, Rogic can be a man to actually be the key to the entire Celtic performance.

Without Rogic, as good as they are, Celtic can at times look a little one dimensional with the ball more than likely being fed through the left hand side and Scott Sinclair. Teams have found if they can isolate the English winger that they can effectively shut down the Hoops attack.

With Rogic, they have another quality option and not on either wing but through the middle. He has the skill and poise to find space between the midfield and defence in the central areas and provide passes that would unlock the best defences around, never mind Rangers’ inexperienced and ropey set-up.

He may not last the full 90 minutes but if they can get him on the ball in the first hour of the game, Tom Rogic can punish Rangers. He scored in last season’s semi-final after all and even got on the scoresheet the last time Celtic played at Hampden, in the Scottish League Cup Final against Aberdeen.

The Big Battle: Brown vs Hyndman

Sunday’s game is going to be won and lost in the midfield areas and set to go head-to-head there are Emerson Hyndman and Scott Brown. Hyndman has been a key figure for the Light Blues since joining on loan from Bournemouth in January.

Along with Jon Toral, he’s made the central midfield area perhaps the strongest area of the pitch for the Gers across a 90 minutes. He’s powerful, skilful and knows when to commit himself forward into the final third.

Scott Brown will be massively important in countering that. The Celtic and Scotland captain is having one of the best seasons of his career and if he can be the midfield spoiler that ensures the Rangers midfield doesn’t get a foothold in the game then Celtic will win.

Of all the tussles across the pitch on Sunday, this may be the most important.

Celtic face a long trip to the Highlands this Easter weekend, facing Ross County on Sunday in a lunchtime kick-off. With the league done and dusted there isn’t too much tangible on the line, although the Hoops are still gunning for that unbeaten domestic season.

The Hoops’ most important match left this season, apart from a potential final, is next weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers and Brendan Rodgers has already admitted he is trying to build the fitness and form of the squad to that peak.

Trips up north to face either Ross County or Inverness Caledonian Thistle are rarely easy. It’s a long journey, they play on tight pitches and they always get a physical and robust game from the home side.

Supporters of course would like to see an unbeaten season but the most important thing is ensuring the treble and as such, some squad management may be at play against County.

Is it time to give some talented Celtic youngsters vital game time ahead of next season?

Here are three such players on the brink of regular first team action that should get the nod in Dingwall…

Jack Aitchison

Brendan Rodgers clearly believes in the ability of young Jack Aitchison. While he’s not yet made his first start at the Hoops, he has made three substitute appearances and two of them have come under the current Celtic boss.

The most recent was just last week when he came on in the second half during the home draw to Partick Thistle. He was on the scoresheet for Celtic’s Development Side just this week too, so is in good form, and we’re sure a full match in the highlands would do wonders for his development.

His potential came to the fore at the tail-end of last season of course, when he came on against Motherwell to become Celtic’s youngest ever player and goalscorer.

Is it time for him to hit the headlines again?

Eboue Kouassi

Eboue Kouassi, still just 19, got his first start for the Hoops last week in the match against Partick Thistle, one of four total appearances for Celtic since making the switch from Russian side Krasnodar in January.

While he still looks raw and is most certainly getting used to the game in Scotland, the match against Ross County represents another chance to get some vital minutes on the pitch.

He’s unlikely to feature in either of the two upcoming Rangers games and so his next playing time may not come until we’re well into the month of May.

Giving him a game on Sunday will allow him to experience an away match from the start in the Scottish top-flight and provide the Hoops with some physicality in the middle of the park.

If he’s to have a say in this summer’s UEFA Champions League qualifiers, he needs as much action on the pitch as possible in games that don’t matter all that much.

Calvin Miller

Calvin Miller has one solitary Celtic appearance and it came from the start in a win against Partick Thistle in December. He performed well that night, one of the Hoops top performers in a pretty turgid match.

He’s had to wait to get another chance in the side with Kieran Tierney and Scott Sinclair in such good form on the left. He has the ability to play in attack on the wing or, as we saw against Partick, at left-back.

If Rodgers decides to rest either of his left-sided stars then it opens the door for Miller given Emilio Izaguirre’s time at the club is coming to an end.

He’s featured regularly for the Development Squad since that debut and deserves another chance to show what he can do in the first team. At 19 years of age, he’s approaching a critical time in his development if he’s to make the transition into Rodgers’ plans going forward.

Leeds United fans have given differing opinions over a suggested return to Elland Road for Jermaine Beckford.

The 33-year-old striker spent four years playing for the Whites between 2006 and 2010.

Since then, Beckford has donned the colours of Everton, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers and more recently Preston North End, where he played for the past two years.

On Monday, the Lilywhites confirmed that Beckford will not be offered a new contract, meaning that he will be a free agent this summer.

After hearing the news, some fans suggested that Leeds should try to bring him back to the club.

Others, though, were not convinced that he is the type of striker they need to help launch a serious bid for Premier League promotion next season.

Garry Monk’s side seemed destined for the playoffs a matter of months ago, but they ended up slipping out of the top six, losing their spot to Fulham.

Sunday marks the last match at White Hart Lane and is of great importance to the man dubbed ‘the King of’ – as Glenn Hoddle says a fond farewell to the ground where he made his name and formed his reputation.

The former Tottenham player and boss has laid down his memories in an exclusive interview with Harry Harris on ZapSportz where he highlights his greatest moments, goals scored and general memories of his times at The Lane – a must read for all Spurs supporters

One of the great parts of the interview is Hoddle deciding what his greatest goal was at N17 and it is clear there were plenty to choose from, as these two didn’t even make the cut…

Who can forget his last goal at White Hart Lane v Oxford United…

Or this absolute banger against Nottingham Forest…

Find out the goal Hoddle chose and more of his memories at White Hart Lane by clicking here.

According to reports in his homeland, Croatian star Lovre Kalanic is attracting significant interest from Everton, who are expected to be on the prowl for a new first team goalkeeper this summer.

What’s the Word?

Sportske Novosti are claiming that Everton are prepared to offer €20million (£17.4million) for the Gent goalkeeper.

No more than 18 months ago, Aston Villa were reported to be interested in signing the giant Croatian, who was plying his trade with Hajduk Split at the time. However, this failed to transpire and the 6ft7” international moved to Belgium in January of this year.

Now, with Everton seemingly searching the market for a new number one, Kalinic is reportedly on their radar and would undoubtedly be interested in a move to the Premier League.

How good has Kalinic been this season?

In short – fantastic. In just four months at Gent, the 27-year-old made an incredible impression and helped the team to reach the Pro League play-offs. His contribution for just one half of the season saw him voted the Gent player of the year by fans.

The Croatian conceded less than one goal per game domestically and was a truly dominant ‘keeper, especially when it came to set pieces and crosses.

 Would Kalinic be a good signing for Everton?

While Kalinic, who holds eight caps for Croatia, may not be the marquee signing that Evertonians hoped their new goalkeeper would be, the imposing stopper is experienced at both international and European level and still has his prime years ahead of him.

However, the Premier League is an unforgiving competition and there would undoubtedly be questions as to whether Kalinic is up to the exceptionally high standards of England’s top flight.

Although he remains on the books at Manchester City, Joe Hart is very much a man without a club.

There’s been hardly any talk of him signing for Torino permanently after spending last season there on loan, but his career with the Citizens appears to be dead in the water as well.

A readily available 71-cap England international would usually set pulses racing but Hart’s increasing tally of costly goalkeeping errors appears to have swayed a significant chunk of public opinion against him.

Earlier this week, the Hammers were linked with a loan swoop for the 30-year-old, so we asked Irons supporters whether they’d back such a deal – something that seemed more than likely following underwhelming form from Adrian and Darren Randolph.

And although the majority of West Ham fans would be in favour of a loan swoop, it’s perhaps more significant that 41% voted against it, showing how the 6 foot 5 shot-stopper would actually be quite a controversial signing in east London.

Arsenal have been heavily linked to highly rated, 18-year-old French forward Kylian Mbappe recently, a rumoured £121m bid has been made by the Gunners in an attempt to lure away the player from his current employers Monaco as reported by French media outlet L’Équipe.

The deal would not only smash the north Londoners current transfer record but it would also smash the world record transfer fee, set by Manchester United in the summer of 2016 for Paul Pogba, as the Red Devil’s forked out a whopping £89m on their own youth product they let leave to Juventus on a free transfer a few seasons before.

Mbappe would be an expensive acquisition by Arsene Wenger and would be the most expensive in the club’s history but can you name the Gunners’ current top 10 most expensive signings in Arsenal’s history?

Have a go at this quiz and see how much you know about Arsenal transfers…

[ffc-quiz ]

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has admitted that he is “surprised” that Wayne Rooney’s future at Old Trafford has not already been resolved.

Rooney, 31, has been widely tipped to leave Man United this summer after struggling for first-team football during the 2016-17 campaign.

A move to former club Everton has been suggested, while it is understood that teams from the Chinese Super League and MLS are also interested in the England captain.

Rooney is still a Man United player less than two weeks before the start of pre-season, however, and Neville has claimed that the club’s pre-season preparations now risk being “clogged up” due to the speculation that will continue to gather pace.

Neville told the BBC:

“You don’t want to create voids for speculation around such big players. I am surprised it has not been dealt with.

“You don’t want that speculation to hang over a pre-season because every single press conference and media session will be clogged up with the issue of whether he is staying or going.”

Rooney has scored 253 goals in 559 appearances for Man United following a 2004 move from Everton, although only eight of those efforts came under Jose Mourinho last season.

Indeed, last term was the only season that Rooney has failed to hit double figures for the Red Devils, but as it stands, the experienced attacker will travel on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States next month.

When you talk about Rangers and Pedro Caixinha, two things are clear; one, the start to his reign as boss Ibrox has been poor by any standard and two, any talk of him leaving the club at this stage is absurd.

Yes the result on Tuesday night was tough to take for Rangers fans and justifiable caused a lot of backlash and anger towards the squad and the manager himself. Some were even calling for his resignation, or at least speculating that his days at Ibrox were numbered.

However, that’s not a constructive way to look at the situation. Having just signed almost a full team of players of his choice and style, Rangers need to see this project through now for better or worse.

That’s not to say he hasn’t been getting plenty wrong, he has. The sign of a good manager is recognising his faults and working to address them. Whether Caixinha can do that over the coming months will define his time in Glasgow.

Here are FOUR things he’s getting wrong that we think he needs to address…

The formation is unbalanced

The formation and tactics on display against Progres Niederkorn were confusing to say the least. Ostensibly a 4-2-3-1 in the vein of many teams across the world these days, Niko Kranjcar was dropping far too deep to maintain an effective presence in midfield. Lee Wallace and James Tavernier were too disconnected from their defensive partners to maintain cohesion.

It all resulted in a rather bizarre situation where the intended formation devolved into a midfield with far too many players in it, isolated from both their backline and the striker.

It was evident in both the lack of chances they created and their vulnerability at the back. Alfredo Morelos didn’t have an opportunity all evening and it didn’t improve in the second half when Eduardo Herrera arrived on the pitch. Kenny Miller tried his best as he always does but even he was limited to just a chance or two. A nervous defence was exposed on too many occasions and ultimately the team suffered.

Caixinha needs to bring more structure and a more defined formation to the team soon or chaos will reign at Ibrox well into the new season.

He isn’t handling the press correctly

In defence of Pedro Caixinha, the press in Scotland haven’t given him an easy ride. The lens placed on both the manager of Rangers and Celtic is always extreme and it’s a key factor why some men simply don’t have what it takes to be a success at either club.

Caixinha needs to act fast or he risks losing all credibility in a similar way to what happened to Ronny Deila. Outlandish statements and complicated explanations of tactics and players are all well and good, but when you aren’t getting the job done one the pitch it makes you look foolish.

Added to statements about the culture of Rangers and banning green boots, it all adds up to rather toxic media situation for the manager.

Perhaps he’s been too honest, too open and while that’s to his credit it simply doesn’t fly in Scottish football. He needs to be more restrained and guarded and bring a siege mentality to Ibrox.

If he does that and Rangers start winning, he’ll soon turn around perceptions.

He doesn’t know who his striker is

Between Kenny Miller, Martyn Waghorn, Alfredo Morelos and Eduardo Herrera, Rangers now have an abundance of players who can lead the line for the Light Blues. The only problem is, Pedro Caixinha doesn’t seem to trust any of them to play in the lone striker position.

All four featured in the position at various times across the two legs against Progres with none of them really shining. Kenny Miller gets pass marks but the other three looked a little lost and even Miller seemed to drift from one position to the next in a bizarre free role he is not equipped to perform in.

For us, it’s probably time to try and forge a path with two strikers in the Rangers team. As we’ve noted there’s a real lack of creativity in the Rangers midfielder despite the numbers being there, so it only makes sense to change it up and try and create a partnership.

It’s not as fashionable in football as it once was, and in many cases for good reason, but a 4-4-2 of some sort would likely go down a treat with fans and that’s who Caixinha has to prove himself to right now.

A partnership of Morelos and Herrera sounds workable in theory with the former a pacy player who likes the ball to feet and Herrera seemingly capable of bring a physical presence up front.

Is that the way forward?

Lots of individuals, not a team

At the heart of the issue for Rangers is they simply don’t look like a team right now, and frankly haven’t since he arrived even in the tail-end of last season.

For all the signings Pedro Caixinha has made, none of them look comfortable playing as part of a unit. The faults of Mark Warburton’s team were numerous but they looked like they played for each other at least, much of the time. Even Graeme Murty’s dogged outfit looked to have far more team spirit than what’s on offer right now.

Caixinha now has a month to bang his team into shape and have them work on finding the right team blend of personality, skill and desire.

The individual signings have all appeared to be positive on paper; Bruno Alves, Carlos Pena, Graham Dorrans. But can the manager make them all fit together?

While the rest of the Premier League continues to spend exorbitant amounts of money on players from across the globe, Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t done a thing.

The Tottenham boss is the only manager not to have added to his squad this transfer window, and the vast difference in the Argentine’s transfer policy from his rivals is incredibly refreshing.

The European giants’ spending has gotten pretty ridiculous over the past few seasons and shows no signs of slowing down. Manchester City has spent more on their defence this summer than 47 countries do, Real Madrid are rumoured to be willing to pay up €180million for 18-year old Kylian Mbappé and PSG could pay €222million to sign Neymar from Barcelona. Imagine those figures being discussed even five years ago.

Tottenham’s high league finishes and place in the Champions League  have certainly increased the club’s transfer budget, but they are holding steadfast in not signing players they don’t completely believe in. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy recently said that if they don’t find a player they like, Pochettino would rather give one of their young players a chance — a sharp contrast from the rest of the league’s elite.

Clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea, owners of England’s most talented academies, have spent so much money on their first team that it is now virtually impossible for their young players to join the first team. Tottenham, however, has a clear path for their academy stars to join the senior players.

Spurs’ best player, Harry Kane, came out of the academy and Pochettino’s youth policy has allowed Dele Alli to flourish, which provides a great opportunity for Harry Winks, Josh Onomah and Cameron Carter-Vickers to become first team stars in the near future.

Tottenham are helping build a culture and an identity by using players who have been a part of the club’s setup for years. Every fan likes a big-name signing but often those players don’t affiliate themselves with the club like an academy graduate would. John Terry and Steven Gerrard were club and country icons and lived and breathed Chelsea and Liverpool. It is difficult in today’s Premier League to see a chance for another Terry or Gerrard to breakthrough at a young age.

Why give a young player a chance when you can buy an older, proven player?

It is a difficult point to argue against, especially as the league continues to get more and more competitive and managerial leashes get shorter. But that’s what makes Tottenham a rare breed in today’s Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s attitude towards the transfer market is a refreshing one that is going to save his club from pointless spending and likely help produce England’s next wave of international stars.