Celtic predicted line-ups for the League Cup final v Rangers

Ange Postecoglou is currently 23 games unbeaten domestically while Ibrox counterpart Michael Beale has gone 14 without defeat since taking the reins from Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The Hoops are the current holders having won last season's tournament courtesy of two Kyogo Furuhashi goals against Hibs at the national stadium.

With the Japanese striker expected to be fit and ready from the start for this one following a recent shoulder injury, will he come straight back into the XI?

Who will Postecoglou opt for as he looks to take a step toward a historic treble? Our writers have their say...

Sean Martin

I don't see the point of much overthinking for this one really so let's dive straight in, shall we?

Fundamentally I'm fine with either Aaron Mooy or Matt O'Riley starting in midfield. The former has been in superb form since the World Cup and made an impact in his half-hour derby cameo last month.

I think it'll be O'Riley at Hampden though. He offers far more off the ball and has better movement to both create and exploit space going forward in this type of game (or at least the kind of game I expect it to be).

I won't be at all perturbed if it is Mooy who's given the nod though - he's earned it as well.

READ MORE: How Aaron Mooy swung derby back in Celtic's favour

Further forward I think Liel Abada has a genuine argument to be in the team. He has made four derby starts and pillaged three goals and an assist in those, often supplying nightmare fodder for Rangers left-back Borna Barisic in the process.

However... I've said before Daizen Maeda is custom-built for derby day and reckon James Tavernier will struggle to contain Celtic's left flank whether it is the Japanese or Jota who starts there.

I think it's going to be Maeda so that leaves the right-wing berth as a one-on-one between Jota and Abada. The Israeli has started around a third of games this season and will probably be in reserve for this one too; Jota is simply the better player.

As one Celtic Briefing viewer rightly pointed out: it's now a 16-player game for Postecoglou so the bench will be vital regardless of who starts.

Sean's team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O'Riley; Jota, Kyogo, Maeda

Tony Haggerty

There is an argument to say that Celtic's League Cup final team actually picks itself.

Joe Hart will be in goal and the right-back will be Alistair Johnston while Greg Taylor - who has goalscoring form against Rangers at Hampden Park - will be deployed at left full-back. They will be on either side of a central defensive pairing of Cameron Carter-Vickers on the right and Carl Starfelt on the left.

Skipper Callum McGregor will be in the engine room alongside Reo Hatate which leaves the big decision of Mooy or O'Riley. My heart says O'Riley for what he brings to the side but my head is saying Mooy because he has been in imperious form since his return from Qatar.

He also takes a mean penalty and is a cool head on experienced shoulders, which  Postecoglou will need in the heat of a Glasgow Derby cup final battle. Mooy wins - but only just - and O'Riley will come on and have a major impact on proceedings.

Kyogo Furuhashi will spearhead the Celtic attack looking to repeat last season's cup final goal heroics. There is nothing to suggest that he can't.

READ MORE: Why Ange Postecoglou has this Celtic side ready to seize the day

Who will the manager trust to supply the Japanese striker? It has to be Jota on the right and Maeda on the left for me.

The Portuguese winger is capable of winning this contest with an individual moment of brilliance and a fully switched-on Jota strikes terror into the heart of any opposition. Hampden Park really ought to his stage to show that he can deliver when it matters most. He should also be determined to make up for missing last season's showpiece through injury.

Maeda, meanwhile, typifies everything you ever want and need from a Postecoglou squad member and is a selfless player for the team. He is going to be asked to perform one of those mesmeric shifts that will see him cover every blade of grass and he will not utter one complaint about doing so.

He scored on his last outing against Rangers at Ibrox and on his last visit to the national stadium. His confidence levels should be at an all-time high. This is Maeda's kind of game as he is a quiet, ruthless and relentless assassin at both ends of the pitch. 

Tony's team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, Mooy; Jota, Kyogo, Maeda

Aidan Macdonald

This could be one of the most important team selections of Postecoglou's Celtic career.  It could be argued that the majority of the starting XI is fairly obvious - with a couple of notable exceptions.

In goal, it will be Hart as usual. He remains the number-one choice at the club and it is vital that he has stellar performance in terms of shot-stopping and distribution.

On to the defence. Johnston will begin at right-back; he made his debut at Ibrox last month and demonstrated he is more than capable of dealing with the pressure of the fixture.

The central defensive partnership will be Carter-Vickers and Starfelt. The pair have lost just one domestic game when starting together, that being last season's semi-final against the Ibrox side, and they will be looking to put that fact right on Sunday. Mr reliable Taylor will start at left-back.

McGregor will anchor the midfield from the number six position. There is no way the captain is not starting the League Cup final. In front of him is where one of the two questions arises: Mooy or O'Riley?

READ MORE: Why Celtic have the advantage over Rangers in almost every position

I feel Postecoglou will go with the Denmark under-21 international in the middle of the park. The Australian has been excellent since the turn of the year and will be an important player to come off the bench.

However, it is likely Celtic will need to defend more than usual during this match and so out of possession O'Riley's legs will be favoured as part of the midfield. There is no debate about the other number eight role, as Hatate will start amid sensational form.

Liel Abada will start on the right-hand side of the front three. The Israeli has been excellent in these fixtures over the last two seasons and his goal record speaks for itself. He has regularly given Rangers' defence a torrid time.

Kyogo will lead the line through the middle as he looks to score for the second game in a row against Michael Beale's side. Jota will move across to his favoured left-wing position, where he can dictate play. Maeda will drop to the bench as a result but he is another who will undoubtedly contribute later on.

Aidan's team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, O'Riley, Hatate; Abada, Kyogo, Jota

Remember to check The Celtic Way on matchdays for detailed player ratings & post-match analysis