Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou couldn’t ask for a better way to ring in the new year.
The Hoops take on bitter rivals Rangers at Ibrox in the latest iteration of the Old Firm, a match new Rangers boss Michael Beale has described as the “derby of all derbies”, with kick-off scheduled for 11:30pm AEDT on Monday night.
Watch Celtic take on Rangers in the Old Firm LIVE at 11:30pm AEDT with beIN Sports on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
A win for Postecoglou’s troops would move them 12 points clear ahead of their cross-town rivals at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.
Not only that, it would also all but confirm a second-straight league title for Celtic, barring a complete capitulation in the second half of the season.
The last time the two historic rivals came to blows this season, Postecoglou’s men blew Rangers away in a 4-0 demolition job.
But this time around, Postecoglou has a different adversary sitting in the opposite dugout and he’s no stranger to what this fixture is all about.
The Rangers gig is just Beale’s second as a manager having taken over at Queens Park Rangers in the summer but lasted just 22 games as the Scottish giants came calling after previous boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst was axed.
Red card bonanza in Barcelona! | 01:34
MORE COVERAGE
Secret Socceroos’ 17-0 humbling — and the stats guru uncovering a century of stories
PL Wrap: Coach’s wild claim as Spurs booed off after loss; Chelsea’s season takes turn for the worse
Rumour Mill: Chelsea set to win bidding war for 21yo prodigy; $173m Blues flop wants out
Before then, the 42-year-old was best known as Steven Gerrard’s right-hand man during the Liverpool legend’s time as Rangers boss, before the two both moved to Aston Villa in November 2021.
Since his return to Ibrox, Beale has won four from four with Rangers scoring 10 goals in that time.
Beale already has 13 Old Firm derbies under his belt, winning eight of those as a member of Gerrard’s coaching staff.
But this is his first one when it is he who calls the shots, not Gerrard.
And former Rangers star Kenny Miller knows just how vital it is that Beale gets off the mark in his first match against Celtic since taking over at Ibrox.
“As Rangers gaffer, he needs to come up with a game plan that gives his team a chance of beating Celtic,” Miller wrote in a column for the Daily Record.
“That’s Michael’s job now. It’s why he decided to sit in the hot seat
“And make no mistake, your first derby game in Glasgow — for any manager — is massive. It’s his first proper test in the dugout.
“Unlike his three-and-a-half-year stint at Ibrox before, he’s the man now. This is his time and it’s a big moment in his managerial career.
“He’ll know the magnitude of it. He has to put a marker down because you can’t go two, three, four Old Firms without winning one.
“You want to get in and strike early. Just like successful Rangers and Celtic gaffers have done in the past.”
Beale described the occasion as “the derby of all derbies” and insists it is a “privilege to be involved in”, but he is under no illusions when it comes to the size of the task that awaits.
And the Brit insists his side will not “make a step backwards” against a Celtic side who no doubt will be going full throttle at their opponents for 90 minutes.
“At this moment in time, Celtic have had a better rhythm than us but we have to do whatever it takes to get the result,” Beale said.
“I’m hugely confident, it is Rangers at Ibrox.
“We will meet them at the halfway line and go forward for the three points. We won’t make a step backwards for Celtic or anyone who comes to Ibrox.
“This game means a lot, I feel the responsibility every day.
“We need the feedback from this game to improve and move forward, as second is not good enough here.”
As for Postecoglou, he knows he’s leading his side into battle against a set of rivals riding a strong wave of momentum on the back of four consecutive wins.
“I’m looking forward to it, it should be a great atmosphere, they’re up and running, they’ve had some good form so it should be a good game,” Postecoglou told Sky Sports.
“They’ve changed slightly in terms of their shape.
“Obviously, Michael hasn’t had a chance to change personnel too much yet, but whenever you get a new manager there’s a new energy within the building and you can see that in the first three of four games he’s been in charge.”
The Hoops boss also has a number of crucial selection calls to make, one of which involves an Aussie compatriot.
In Celtic’s last outing against Hibernian, Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy got his first goals since joining the club in the summer as he scored a sweetly-timed half-volley and sent David Marshall the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Despite his goalscoring exploits and solid form of late, Mooy could find himself back on the bench with star right-back Josip Juranovic set to return to action.
Midfielder Reo Hatate has deputised at right-back in Juranovic’s absence, but with the Croatian returned after a strong World Cup showing that gained plenty of admirers, Mooy may end up being the fall guy.
However, Postecoglou was reluctant to reveal any team plans, insisting he can never lock in his lineup in the days beforehand.
“I have got a couple of decisions to make, mate,” Postecoglou said.
“It’s not what sort of drives me. I said the other day, whatever plans you may have as a manager, and I guess from the outside it always seems black and white, there are always things you need to factor in to your decision.
“If I set here and tell you I know what my starting XI is I will kid myself.
“We will have a look at who is moving well, who can make the most impact to start the game with the full knowledge that whoever doesn’t start will be able to make a contribution coming off the bench.”
No matter the team Postecoglou puts out at Ibrox, there will be an abundance of quality both in his starting lineup and on the bench.
And against a Rangers side with a new manager at the helm who has an almighty point to prove, Postecoglou will need every single one of his troops to step up in what could be the biggest domestic test the Aussie faces this season.
Watch Celtic take on Rangers in the Old Firm LIVE at 11:30pm AEDT with beIN Sports on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
