Celtic have less than a week to find a different answer to the problems Rangers caused them at Ibrox.
Sunday’s Premiership meeting at Celtic Park gives Martin O’Neill an immediate opportunity to change the narrative after the 3-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat, and UEFA A Licence coach and analyst John Walker believes the solution starts with Celtic’s movement in possession.
His main criticism was that too many players were occupying similar positions, particularly down the left.
“It just all felt far too static,” Walker said: on X.
Celtic: Progressive Play Problems
Rangers change in formation & man for man press can account for a slow start to the game but after half-time, the lack of change would have been a slight concern.
Slight tweaks were available:
> Inverting Fullbacks like Postecoglou
> Allowing… pic.twitter.com/HvO2zY9Rjl— John Walker (@johnwalker_1986) September 14, 2026
Kieran Tierney, Mika Baur and Sebastian Tounekti were regularly positioned in the same channel, making it easier for Rangers to keep Celtic in front of them.
Walker believes Celtic can cause Rangers far more problems on Sunday by using the full-backs differently.
Rather than Tierney remaining outside and behind the play, his analysis suggested Celtic could ask him to move inside and higher into midfield at the right moments.
That would give Liam Scales a clearer route into Tounekti while also forcing Rangers to decide who tracks Tierney.
The important part is not simply putting another body into midfield. Walker’s analysis centred on the timing of those movements.
Celtic were too often making runs after the opportunity to play forward had already disappeared.
That left them recycling possession back towards Sam Johnstone rather than breaking Rangers’ first line.
Walker summed up the problem bluntly: “There’s no way to get out.”
Colby Donovan offered a glimpse of how it could work on the opposite side.
Walker highlighted moments where the young right-back moved inside aggressively and occupied a higher midfield position, potentially giving Celtic another route through the Rangers press.
The difference at Celtic Park may therefore come down to whether those movements become part of the plan rather than occasional moments.
Walker added: “Celtic were just too slow, too passive, played into Rangers’ hands far too often without really intent of going forward.”
That is the part O’Neill has to change.
Rangers will arrive knowing their approach worked at Ibrox. Celtic cannot simply move the ball quicker around the same positions and expect a different outcome.
They need better spacing, sharper rotations and players moving before the pass arrives.
There is also the issue of what happens once Celtic lose possession.
Walker felt the second Rangers goal exposed another problem.
“Celtic also don’t have the legs to recover as far as I’m concerned.”
That brings the midfield selection back into focus ahead of Sunday.
The Ibrox defeat showed what happens when Celtic remain predictable.
Walker believes Celtic need more movement and quicker runs from the full-backs if they are to cause Rangers more problems on Sunday.
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