Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 to retain the Viaplay Cup; Ange Postecoglou's side have a nine-point lead in the Scottish Premiership; watch St Mirren vs Celtic on Sunday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off midday
Wednesday 1 March 2023 14:49, UK
Sky Sports' Andy Walker believes Celtic will extend their lead over Rangers before the end of the season.
The former Hoops striker also thinks their spending power will make it difficult for their Old Firm rivals to narrow the gap next season.
Ange Postecoglou's side are nine points clear in the Scottish Premiership title race, and ended Michael Beale's winning start as Rangers manager on Sunday when they won 2-1 to retain the League Cup at Hampden Park.
The sides will meet two more times in the league this season and Walker believes Celtic will be eyeing a domestic clean sweep.
"Ange Postecoglou is just used to winning and he wants to win with a bit of style," he told Sky Sports News.
"You are right to highlight that nine-point gap, I think it will only get bigger.
"Celtic are on an astonishing run since they lost that game last September to St Mirren, who they play this weekend, but they bounced back so well from that defeat.
"They have got a nine-point gap and they have still got Rangers to play a couple of times in the league, home and away, and I can only see them adding to that lead.
"Obviously the Scottish Cup can go anywhere, as anyone can get a victory in any 90 minutes. I don't think anyone will be mentioning it at Celtic, but they will certainly have their eye on yet another Treble."
Beale chose to start with Rangers' January signings Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin on the bench at the National Stadium on Sunday, something Walker believes he will now regret.
"These are the two players that were identified in the January window to make Rangers better, to make a difference and give them more quality and maybe to play a bit more football," he added.
"The fact that they didn't play was a bit surprising, but I think Michael Beale must realise he has not got the depth of squad and he's not got the same quality that Celtic have.
"I'm sure these two players will play from now until the end of the season, but Rangers need strengthening in the summer. They've got a number of players out of contract, some who they would like to keep.
"It takes a lot of money to get the type of quality Celtic have and I am not convinced Rangers have that amount of money. I think Michael Beale will have to spend wisely and get value for money."
Sunday March 5: St Mirren vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm
Saturday March 18: Motherwell vs Rangers, kick-off 12.30pm
Sunday April 2: Ross County vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm
Saturday April 8: Celtic vs Rangers, kick-off 12.30pm
Sunday April 9: Dundee United vs Hibernian, kick-off 12pm
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