Match Preview: Brendan Rodgers looking to end Pre-season on a strong note
The last time Liverpool played the reigning Scottish Premier League champions was back in July 2004 in a preseason friendly in Connecticut, USA.
Both clubs share a rich history, spanning over 120 years. Celtic were the first British club to have won the European Cup (1967) while Liverpool were the first British club that won the European cup five times. Even now, Liverpool are the most successful English side in Europe.
However, things have not been that illustrious for the Merseyside giants in the last few years with the club failing to feature in the Champions League for the past few seasons now. Last time around, The Reds failed to qualify for European football but confidence is running high following the arrival of Brendan Rodgers who has managed to turn things around at the club. No more are Liverpool pushovers and with the way they have performed during the preseasons, it is clear that the Reds will be a force to be reckoned with when the Barclays Premier League campaign kicks off.
Despite playing well, Liverpool management has its hands full at the moment, thanks to constant speculation surrounding the future of Luis Suarez. The controversial Uruguay international has openly stated his desire to leave Anfiled and is pretty keen on playing for a club that offers him Champions League football. Arsenal have had two bids rejected for the former Ajax striker who according to recent reports, is contemplating taking legal action against the club.
Should he feature in the game, it would be interesting to see what kind of reception Suarez receives at the Aviva Stadium.
Celtic on the other hand, would be looking to make full use of the game in a bid to prepare ahead of a hectic calendar ahead in which they will play in the Champions League and will also be looking to keep their Scottish football dominance intact. Following Rangers’ relegation, Celtic have become the omnipotent force in Scotland and it is unlikely to see a challenger rise up this season.
Celtic faithful also have a strong affiliation with Liverpool supporters. The Bhoys were the first side that Liverpool faced following the Hillsborough tragedy as part of a memorial fixture on April 30, 1989. The game saw supporters of both sides connect as the Celtic fans cheered every time Liverpool scored a goal.
Where to watch the match – live stream, start time, TV channels
Watch the game live:
In UK at 17:00 BST on BT Sport 1
In USA at 12:00pm ET on beIN Sport
Internationally on Liverpool TV
Fans elsewhere can also watch the match live aired on their local TV channels. Fans in Ireland can watch the match live on BT Sport 1, while those Australia will have ESPN Australia airing the match live.
