Three talking points from Old Firm Derby as Celtic beat Rangers 1-0
Celtic continued their domination over bitter rivals Rangers, as they beat them 1-0 at Parkhead on Sunday, courtesy a second-half strike from midfielder Olivier Ntcham.
The result meant Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys moved up to the second spot in the Scottish Premiership table, with 9 points from four games. Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard’s side tasted their first defeat of the new season.
In what was a toughly contested battle, here are the three major talking points of the game.
Olivier Ntcham the man for Celtic
As per The Scottish Sun, the 23-year-old Frenchman was targeted by a number of clubs in the summer. However, he ended up staying put, unlike compatriot Moussa Dembele. And he displayed his dedication and commitment to the team with a dominant display against the Gers, which was capped off by the all-important winner in the 62nd minute.
Signed a year ago from Manchester City, Ntcham has grown into a pivotal part of the team and has developed the knack of making his presence felt in the big games. Having played vital roles in the derbies last season as well, the midfielder once again stepped up when it mattered and fired his team to victory.
Kieran Tierney shows class again
The Celtic full-back produced another scintillating display on Sunday, continuing his strong start to the 2018/19 campaign. Coming up against the likes of Ryan Kent and James Tavernier, the Scotland international had little trouble defensively, while his pace was highlighted every time he went on his forays down the left-hand side.
He acted as the chief outlet for the Hoops for most parts of the game and his link-up with the midfielders and the attackers were sharp. His deliveries into the box weren’t at his usual level but Tierney continues to improve and get better with every passing game. In fact, he is enhancing his reputation as one of the best young full-backs across Europe.
Rodgers reigns supreme in the battle against Gerrard
The most compelling narrative ahead of the first Glasgow derby of the season was the whole Rodgers vs Gerrard rivalry. While a meeting between the two Scottish clubs is always a huge event, the history between the two managers added more intrigue to the contest.
It is no secret that the pair were not seeing eye-to-eye by the time Gerrard left Liverpool, after almost leading his team to the Premier League title under Rodgers. However, there has always been mutual respect between the Celtic boss and his former ward.
And given the start that Gerrard has enjoyed with the Gers, he could have easily beaten Celtic. However, at the end of the day, it was Rodgers who came out on top.
