Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic side travel to the capital to take on Hibernian, on matchday two of the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season.

His side had a great start to the campaign last time out, as they brushed off Kilmarnock 4-0 at home on Flag Day last Sunday. Hibs were not so successful, soundly beaten by Stephen Robinson’s St Mirren 3-0 in Paisley. Now managed by three-time caretaker David Gray permanently, the side will be looking to make amends at home against the reigning champions, their first match at Easter Road this season.

This will be the first of two consecutive games against Sunday’s opposition for Celtic, as the two face off in the second round of the Premier Sports Cup next Sunday. Last season, Celtic defeated Hibs two times – home and away – whilst drawing in their first meeting last campaign.

With all of that being said, who will start for Rodgers’ side in the capital on Sunday lunchtime? The Celtic Way’s Ryan McGinlay and Tony Haggerty each have their say…

Ryan McGinlay

Regardless of form or current standings, a visit to either of the Edinburgh sides always promises to be a tough encounter for Celtic.

After a convincing home win against Kilmarnock, you expect the club and the players to be right up for this match at Easter Road. A difficult place to go to, Celtic have had their fair share of good and bad results in Leith in recent years, with the Adam Idah-inspired late win last time immediately springing to mind.

With Hibs likely to be a wounded animal after their comprehensive defeat to St Mirren last week, Celtic must go full strength – and I believe they will. In goals, Kasper Schmeichel will retain his place after a solid debut between the sticks at Celtic Park. A busier afternoon likely awaits the Denmark legend than the non-event he experienced last Sunday.

The defence will be unchanged, as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales will continue to feature in the centre of the backline. Both will be hoping to keep up the good form they showed against Kilmarnock, though they had little to do in a defensive sense. In the full-back areas, Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston will feature at left and right-back, as no new defenders (apart from Schmeichel) will replace those already at the club presently. More work is needed in the transfer window to alleviate these issues.

Fresh from announcing his retirement from international duty, captain Callum McGregor will feature as always in the deep-lying midfield role for Celtic. Reo Hatate will join him, who looks to be in fine form to start the season, putting in a standout performance on Flag Day versus Kilmarnock in the middle of the engine room. The key question in this particular area of the pitch, however, is if Matt O’Riley will start for the club, as rumours continue to swirl concerning his reported move to Brighton in the Premier League. Despite this constant chatter, the Denmark international will start this one, after his stellar performance last time out. Will it be his last appearance for the club? Who knows at this stage?

In the forward areas, it will be a return to the side for Daizen Maeda, who missed out last week due to a bruised knee sustained versus Chelsea in the US tour. On the other side, Nicolas Kuhn will be looking to make it two goals (at least) in as many games, whilst Celtic’s only recognised striker (watch this space) will lead the line in the shape of Kyogo Furuhashi. Despite the Idah situation moving in the right direction, it looks as if he will have to make his second debut versus Hibs at home next week, instead.

Celtic will win this one, but it will be closer than many think —Rodgers’ side will prevail by two clear goals.

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

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Tony Haggerty

Ironically, Rodgers got his first taste of victory at Easter Road back in February when Idah slotted away two penalties in a vital 2-1 Scottish Premiership success in the capital as he announced himself in fine style to Scottish football.

This week's off-field chat has centred around Norwich City and the Republic of Ireland attacker Idah making his second debut for Celtic. The two clubs are locked in talks to thars out a deal but this clash against Hibs may well be too soon for the 23-year-old to be included in the matchday squad assuming a deal can be concluded.

Celtic got off to the proverbial flyer against Kilmarnock at Parkhead during last weekend's 4-0 league. The Irishman will have been more than pleased by the way the champions went about their business with real zest, zip and vigour as they set about Derek McInnes' side with gusto and posted a statement win in the process.

With that in mind, Rodgers won't necessarily stick with the status quo but he'll tweak his starting lineup ever so slightly for this tricky trip to Edinburgh against a side who were badly bruised 3-0 by St Mirren in their opening fixture. Kasper Schmeichel will be looking to make it back-to-back league clean sheets in between the sticks and he will be ably assisted by Johnston at right-back, Taylor at left back and a central defensive pairing of Carter-Vickers and Scales who got himself on the scoresheet with an impressive header and excellent all-round display.

In the midfield, speculation continues to mount over O'Riley but until Brighton or whichever club hits Celtic's magical £30 million asking fee and a deal is concluded then the Danish international is contracted to the Scottish champions and he plays. He is far too important to the Celtic cause and the daily rumours will not affect the consummate professional one bit. O'Riley will start alongside McGregor and last week's man-of-the-match Hatate who showed a sparkling return to form and got Celtic up and running with the opening goal against the Ayrshire side.

In attack, Nicolas Kuhn who also got on the scoresheet will continue his upward career trajectory by starting on the right wing. Kyogo Furuhashi didn't get on the scoresheet but his contribution was a stellar one no less. The Japanese talisman has been the subject of all sorts of social media stories stating that he is doubtful and nursing an injury after Killie goalkeeper Robby McCrorie clattered into him late on in proceedings. The 29-year-old will start at centre-forward and prove that he is fit to start this capital clash and he will be joined on the left flank by his returning compatriot Maeda who will take the place of Forrest.

Easter Road may not have been the happiest of hunting grounds for Rodgers' Celtic sides in the past. However, the champions will win by three clear goals at least and Schmeichel will register clean sheet number two.

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