Celtic kick off their 2024/25 Scottish Premiership game versus Kilmarnock, as Brendan Rodgers looks to get his side off to winning ways in the defence of their league title.

On Sunday, they face Derek McInnes’ side, who took points off of them twice last season as well as defeating them in the League Cup at the first hurdle almost a year ago. The Ayrshire side have already taken to the field competitively twice this campaign, narrowly beaten by Belgian side Cercle Brugge 2-1 on aggregate in the Conference League, with this game coming just three days on from that disappointment.

At the time of writing, Celtic have three new signings in the form of goalkeeping duo Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel, as well as the permanent return of Paulo Bernardo following a successful loan spell last campaign. Will any of these new recruits make their debut on Flag Day?

The Celtic Way’s Ryan McGinlay and Tony Haggerty each have their say…

Ryan McGinlay

After what has felt like the longest summer – watching Scotland does that to you – the real stuff is back. Despite the slight tinge of annoyance and apathy concerning transfers – or lack of – you can feel the excitement in the air, as another season gets set to kick off this weekend.

The question is: Who will feature for Rodgers on Flag Day? A new arrival in goals, that’s for sure! Schmeichel is set to make his competitive debut for the club against Kilmarnock, after impressing against both Manchester City and Chelsea in pre-season for his new employers. It is yet unclear what Sinisalo’s full role as number two will entail, but it would be a shock to see anyone other than Denmark’s number one taking to the field on Sunday.

Elsewhere in the defence, it will have to be players previously at the club that start for Celtic, as no signings have been made in this outfield department. Alistair Johnston will make his first appearance this season in any capacity after extended Canada international duty, whilst the unchallenged Greg Taylor will feature at left-back. In the middle of defence, it will be Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers who will start for Rodgers, another area that needs both ins and outs at this stage. In truth, Johnston and Carter-Vickers are both solid, though you could make the case for the latter pair to be replaced with better quality. The hope would be that this can take place in the next month or so.

From an area that needs strengthening to a strong sector of the pitch, the midfield trinity – for now – will remain as it was last campaign. Captain Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and the much-fancied Matt O’Riley all will start the opening game of the season – not a sentence I was expecting to say or write, in all honesty. New signing Bernardo will not start - and may not feature altogether - due to his lack of match fitness, though he still does have time on his side. The challenge has been set to the likes of Odin Thiago Holm, Bosun Lawal and even Kwon Hyeok-kyu – break in if you can.

In the forward areas, there may be the one and only area of contention, as Daizen Maeda’s bruised knee may keep him out of events at Celtic Park on Sunday. Because of this, I’m going to predict that Luis Palma will start ahead of the Japan international, as no risks must be taken with the fitness of Maeda. Besides, Palma is more than capable, and probably deserves a chance to shine from the off. On the other side, Nicolas Kuhn will pip James Forrest to a starting spot on the right-wing, as the German will look to kick start his Celtic career following a very promising 45 minutes against Manchester City. Both wingers will supply Kyogo Furuhashi, who remains the only recognised striker at the club presently. There is work to be done to change that, and it needs to be done quickly.

Regardless, Celtic will put on a show and beat Kilmarnock by a few goals, laying down a marker in the process.

Ryan’s team: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley; Kuhn, Kyogo, Palma

Tony Haggerty

Let's go round again. Flag Day is upon us...again!

Rodgers' Celtic will unfurl the Scottish Premiership flag against the very team they battered 5-0 at Rugby Park to clinch the title in emphatic style back in May.

Danish No.1 Schmeichel will get to sample the 'Celtic experience' in front of a full-house audience for the first time and Portuguese midfielder Bernardo has rejoined the fold. For the time being at least, Celtic still have O'Riley in their ranks but only one recognisable striker in the shape of Kyogo, who hit 19 goals last season and was the club's joint top goalscorer alongside O'Riley. After an excellent pre-season tour of the USA, it all starts for real in Glasgow's east end on Sunday evening.

Who will get the nod for Rodgers's side as they attempt to get their title defence off to the proverbial flyer against McInnes' men? Schmeichel will take his long-awaited home bow in between the sticks for Celtic and he has already established himself as a fan favourite due to his shot-stopping prowess and heroics in the USA. There is a feeling that the transition from Joe Hart to Schmeichel could be a seamless one. Schmeichel's glove affair with the Celtic supporters starts in earnest on Sunday.

Assisting Schmeichel at the back of the pack will be Johnston at right-back. The Canadian had a full-on summer after helping Celtic to the double, Canada to the semi-final of the Copa America and making the Copa America XI of the tournament as well as getting engaged. The 25-year-old has taken it all in his stride and he will be a huge player for his club this season. The peerless Carter-Vickers will be partnered in defence by Scales. Celtic still badly needs an upgrade on Scales as well as to give Carter-Vickers a solid left-sided centre-back to play alongside. A clone of Carter-Vickers and someone of his ilk would be the preferred option. However, the central defensive pairing can get through domestically for the time being. Taylor has still to sign a new contract, but the manager is keen on getting that deal done and he will play regardless as Celtic are still looking at options in the left-back area to challenge and finally dislodge Taylor from the automatic starting slot.

Despite the rumblings in the past few weeks about Atalanta, Juventus and Southampton all reputedly keen on O'Riley, the Danish international is still in situ in Glasgow. That may change over the course of the summer window but until it does he remains a mainstay of this Celtic side. O'Riley enjoyed a magnificent pre-season, and he just picked up from where he left off last season. He will start alongside captain fantastic McGregor who revealed in midweek that he put his career on the line when he risked a rupture and nine months on the sidelines by coming back from an Achilles injury after five weeks instead of 12 to steer his side over the line in the quest for the double last season. He is an inspiration. Japanese playmaker Hatate who is allegedly wanted by Leicester may feel he has something to prove to the Celtic supporters after missing a lot of football in the last campaign due to injury. He can still prove his worth as he is a talented footballer who looks like he has listened to his manager by improving his ball retention, distribution and all-round play already if the displays in the USA are anything to go by. If Rodgers can get Hatate firing on all cylinders then he will be a potent weapon for the men in green and white.

Up front, Kuhn will be deployed wide on the right and everybody will be looking for him to replicate his 45-minute cameo against Manchester City when he was explosive and bagged two great goals. It's a huge season for the German who insists that the Celtic supporters have yet to see the best of him. He will be supported by Palma on the left flank who also looked to be as sharp as a tack when he played in the USA. However, Scottish defences had better be warned. They should write off Kyogo at their peril. The Japanese talisman may also be joined by Adam Idah before the window is closed. That will serve to bring the best out in him. His 19 goals return last season might have been scant reward for a striker whose personal goalscoring bar has been set a lot higher. Kyogo has nothing to prove but if pre-season is anything to go by then he is back in the groove. The 29-year-old means business and that spells trouble for Celtic's opposition.

Celtic to win by a handsome margin on Flag Day. You wouldn't bet against another 5-0 scoreline.

Tony's team: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O'Riley; Kuhn, Kyogo, Palma