Scottish Premiership Preview: Motherwell v Rangers, plus Celtic’s Martin O’Neill and Benjamin Nygren in the spotlight

Celtic Park is not where Livingston, who are six points behind Kilmarnock at the bottom and who are winless in 23 league games since August – the longest run for any top-flight team in the 21st century – are expected to pick up their first points since Marvin Bartley was promoted to head coach with David Martindale moving upstairs.

Especially when opposition coach Martin O’Neill celebrates his 200th cap for the Glasgow side – the sixth to reach the milestone.

The Northern Irishman has already reached that goal with more wins than anyone else – his 164 wins being 10 better than Neil Lennon’s – and Celtic will be favorites to add to that on Wednesday.

Celtic have remained unbeaten in eight games since the 73-year-old, already a club legend, was appointed caretaker for a second spell this season, this time until the summer, after the short, dismal reign of Wilfried Nancy.

Six of those were victories – four of them at home – and although they remain six points behind leaders Hearts, Celtic now have a game in hand.

O’Neill’s side are locked in a three-way title race, with improving rivals Rangers now in second place.

However, while still looking weak in defence, Celtic appear to have solved the missing link up front.

Tomas Czavankara, the Czech Republic striker on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Swiss Junior Adamo, on loan from Freiburg, have already reached the goal line in January.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho is close to returning from injury, and new signing, former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, is also adding to their firepower.

The old Celtic never-say-die style came into play again on Saturday as Adamo’s injury-time equalizer denied Dundee a famous cup win in Glasgow.

Therefore, O’Neill is expected to play his 200th match at the team level against the team against which he has not lost in 22 matches at home, winning 19 of them, and winning the last 10 by an aggregate of 30-6 since the 0-0 draw in October 2021.