bet365
BetMGM
William Hill
Betfred
BetUK
LiveScoreBet
10Bet
Virgin Bet
Can Livingston turn direct chaos into a turning point against Celtic’s control? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Geo location and live streaming rules apply.
Works worldwide • Email + on-site access • Instant unlock
▾
This selection is heavily supported by Leicester City’s recent match history, where both teams have found the net in 11 of their last 12 Championship fixtures. Leicester average 1.42 goals scored and 1.50 goals conceded per game, reflecting a high-variance style. West Brom, while more conservative, average more shots per game (13.9) and are particularly strong at attacking set pieces—a noted weakness for Leicester. Given their 1-1 draw earlier this season and the defensive vulnerabilities present on both sides, a goal for each team is a statistically probable outcome.
▾
Leicester City are unbeaten in their last nine league matches against West Brom and have generally dominated recent head-to-head meetings with four wins in their last five. While West Brom are likely to score given Leicester's poor defensive record at set pieces, the Baggies have suffered eight consecutive away defeats. Leicester’s right-sided attacking strength, led by Abdul Fatawu’s creativity, should allow them to outscore a West Brom side that struggles on the road, making a 2-1 home win a consistent fit for the match narrative.
Readers’ Tip
Vote your pick — quick & anonymous
Terms & Conditions (tap to view)
Livingston vs Celtic Predictions and Best Bets
Livingston vs Celtic — William Hill Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample William Hill odds based on current league positioning.
Current pricing reflects the significant gap between the league’s basement side and the high-flying visitors.
High goal volume is anticipated given Celtic’s shot average of 17.4 per game.
- Table gap, same games played: Livingston have nine points from 17 Premiership matches, while Celtic have 35 from 17 — a difference that shapes everything from tempo to game state pressure.
- Control versus resistance in possession: Celtic average 70.9% possession with 88.3% pass success in the Premiership, while Livingston sit at 45.7% possession and 75.7% passing.
- Trend lines that frame the stakes: Livingston have conceded at least one goal in 12 straight league games, while Celtic have won their last eight Premiership meetings with Livingston and kept five straight clean sheets.
Ball Dominance: Average Possession
A comparison of ball control indicates which side is likely to dictate the tempo of the match at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Livingston typically operate with less of the ball, often defending in their own half and relying on direct width.
Celtic’s approach is built on high volume short passing and sustained pressure in the opposition territory.
Attacking Pressure: Shots Per Game
The difference in shot volume highlights the frequency with which each side tests the opposing goalkeeper.
Livingston average fewer than ten shots per league game, reflecting a need for high efficiency from limited chances.
The visitors generate a significantly higher number of attempts, frequently forcing defensive errors through sheer volume.
Round 19 of the Scottish Premiership takes Celtic to Livingston with two very different moods hanging over the Tony Macaroni Arena on 27 December 2025.
Livingston sit bottom of the table on nine points and arrive still searching for a league lift-off that simply hasn’t come often enough. Celtic, second with 35 points, come with all the hallmarks of a side used to dictating terms: heavy possession, high pass accuracy, and a habit of turning pressure into goals.
There’s also recent history between these two that Livingston won’t enjoy revisiting. Celtic have dominated this match-up across the last run of meetings, and that matters because it shapes the psychology of the opening stages: Livingston’s crowd wanting something early to believe in, Celtic’s players expecting to settle in and start squeezing.
The intriguing bit is how those realities collide with the way both sides are described to play. Livingston are painted as direct, wide, aggressive, and often penned in their own half. Celtic, by contrast, are built to keep the ball in the opposition’s territory with short passing, through balls, and a clear preference for working attacks down the left. Put those together and you can already picture the pitch: one team trying to stretch the game quickly; the other trying to shrink it, suffocate it, and keep re-starting attacks until the resistance cracks.
Team News and Likely Set-Ups
Livingston’s possible XI suggests a familiar, functional spine. Jérôme Prior in goal; a back line of Joshua Brenet, Danny Wilson, Daniel Finlayson and Cristian Montaño; then Macaulay Tait and Mohamad Sylla as the base in midfield. Ahead of them, Stevie May, Scott Pittman and Tete Yengi support Jeremy Bokila.
That selection leans into what Livingston are said to be: long balls, width, aggression, and a tendency to operate in their own half. If you pick May, Pittman, Yengi and Bokila together, you’re not pretending you’ll out-pass Celtic for long spells. You’re trying to make your moments count: win territory, fight for second balls, and get bodies around Bokila quickly enough that “hold-up play” becomes “shot” rather than “recycle and reset”.
Celtic’s possible XI has Kasper Schmeichel at the back, with Anthony Ralston, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney and Yang Hyun-Jun across defence. Callum McGregor and Arne Engels are listed as the central midfield pair, with Luke McCowan, Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda operating behind Johnny Kenny.
It’s a line-up that fits Celtic’s stated identity: control in the opposition half, short passes, frequent through balls, and an emphasis on the left. Tierney’s presence is a big clue there, and Maeda’s inclusion hints at a front line built to threaten beyond the last line as well as press from the front. McGregor and Engels reads like a platform designed to keep the ball moving and keep Livingston turning, over and over, until gaps appear.
There is also a notable contrast in approach baked into the “styles” list: Livingston are described as having a consistent first eleven, while Celtic are described as rotating theirs. Even without reading too much into it, that frames the contest as cohesion and battle-hardened habits versus freshness and flexibility.
How the Match Could Be Played
If Livingston want this to feel like a fight rather than a rehearsal of Celtic dominance, the first job is to disrupt rhythm. Their stated weakness in keeping possession makes it unlikely they’ll want long spells of patient build-up; instead, expect them to go early and go wide, aiming to turn Celtic’s full-backs and drag the game toward the touchlines.
That plan comes with risk. Livingston are also flagged as weak when defending attacks down the wings, and Celtic are rated very strong at attacking down the wings. So the same zones Livingston may target to escape pressure could become the zones where they’re most vulnerable once Celtic win the ball back. It’s the classic boomerang match: you try to clear the danger wide, only for the ball to come straight back at you with better quality.
Celtic’s likely control of territory should come from McGregor and Engels setting the tempo and positioning themselves to stop counters at source. Livingston are described as playing in their own half, so Celtic can afford to pin the game high and keep restarting attacks from advanced positions. The “attempt through balls often” note is important here: against a team sitting deep, the challenge is not simply having the ball, but having the courage to thread it between bodies. Nygren and McCowan, listed as attacking midfield options, look like the connectors for that — drifting into pockets, receiving between lines, and trying to slip runners beyond.
Livingston’s offside trap adds another tactical layer. If they hold a line and try to spring it, Celtic’s timing on runs becomes crucial. Maeda’s role in that possible XI feels made for testing it: start wide, dart inside, threaten space early. But an offside trap can also be a pressure-release tool for the defending side — a way of stepping out together and forcing the attacker to hesitate. If Livingston can execute that cleanly, it buys them breath, and breath is priceless when you’re expected to defend a lot.
Where Livingston can hurt Celtic most is in transitions and in the chaos moments. They’re described as aggressive and as very strong at coming back from losing positions, which suggests a side that keeps swinging even when the game goes against them. With Bokila up front and runners around him, the aim will be to turn clearances into contests, contests into knockdowns, and knockdowns into quick shots before Celtic can reset into their possession shape.
But they’ll need discipline. Livingston are also described as very weak at avoiding fouling in dangerous areas and weak at avoiding individual errors. Against a side that spends plenty of time in your half, those weaknesses don’t sit quietly in the background; they get summoned repeatedly.
William Hill
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
bet365
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Betfred
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
10bet
100% Up To £50 On First Deposit
Show Terms & Conditions
The Numbers That Support the Story
The table itself already supports the expected flow. Livingston have nine points from 17 Premiership matches, while Celtic have 35 points from 17.
The stylistic gap shows up in the ball numbers too. Celtic average 70.9% possession in the Premiership with an 88.3% pass success rate, compared to Livingston’s 45.7% possession and 75.7% pass success. That doesn’t just say one team likes the ball more; it hints at where the match is likely to live. If Celtic complete passes at that rate, Livingston’s pressing has to be perfectly timed or it becomes a chasing exercise.
Shot volume also points toward sustained pressure. Celtic take 17.4 shots per game in the league, while Livingston take 9.6. Even if Livingston create moments, Celtic’s ability to keep generating attempts tends to wear opponents down, and it also amplifies the consequence of small defensive mistakes — because the next attack is never far away.
Then there’s the recent league trends. Livingston have won just one of their last 17 Premiership matches, and they’ve conceded at least one goal in 12 straight league games. Celtic, meanwhile, have won their last eight Premiership matches against Livingston and kept clean sheets in the last five league meetings between the sides. Those are not cosmetic numbers; they speak directly to the likely match script: Celtic pressure, Livingston defending for long spells, and Livingston needing something exceptional — or chaotic — to flip the pattern.
Key “Moments” to Watch
The first 15 minutes matter more than usual here. Livingston’s best chance to reshape the narrative is to turn the early game into a series of physical duels: contest every long ball, win a few second balls, and get Pittman, May and Yengi close enough to Bokila that Celtic’s centre-backs can’t simply mop up and restart play.
Watch the wide areas like a hawk. Livingston want to use width, but Celtic are described as very strong down the wings too. The moment Celtic start winning those flank battles, Livingston’s shape can get stretched: full-backs dragged out, midfield shuffling over, and the central spaces starting to open for through balls. That’s where players like Nygren can become a problem — not just with shots, but with the timing of the final pass.
Set-piece moments could carry extra weight because of the risk profile. Livingston are described as weak in aerial duels and weak at avoiding fouls in dangerous areas; Celtic are described as strong in aerial duels and strong at defending set pieces. In other words: if Livingston concede too many cheap, stoppable situations near their box, they may end up defending the kind of deliveries Celtic are built to enjoy. At the other end, Livingston may struggle to make dead-balls feel like “their moment” if Celtic’s set-piece defending holds up.
There’s also a tension point in Celtic’s defensive “weakness” tag: they are described as very weak at stopping opponents from creating chances. If Livingston can turn a few of their direct attacks into genuine shots — not just hopeful crosses — that weakness becomes relevant, because it suggests Celtic can offer windows even in matches they control.
What could go wrong with this read? Plenty. A single individual error can flip a match that otherwise follows the expected pattern, and Livingston are specifically described as weak at avoiding those errors. Equally, if Livingston’s offside trap catches Celtic a few times early, it can disrupt the rhythm and turn neat possession into frustration. Football loves fine margins — and this one has a few waiting to pounce.
Best Bet for Livingston vs Celtic
Works worldwide • Email + on-site access • Instant unlock
Celtic to win and Over 2.5 goals
The statistical gulf between these two sides heading into this round 19 fixture is substantial. Celtic arrive at the Tony Macaroni Arena as a dominant force in the Premiership, sitting in second place with 35 points and possessing a style of play that relentlessly suffocates opponents. They average a massive 70.9% possession and complete their passes with 88.3% accuracy, suggesting they will spend the vast majority of this contest camped in the opposition half. This level of control is particularly dangerous for a Livingston side that sits bottom of the table with just nine points and has won only one of their 17 league matches this season.
Historical patterns further reinforce the likelihood of a high-scoring away victory. Celtic have won their last eight Premiership matches against this opponent and have scored at least two goals in nine consecutive meetings across all competitions. While the visitors have kept clean sheets in their last five league encounters with the Lions, Livingston’s defensive record of 32 goals conceded—the joint-second worst in the division—indicates they struggle to contain high-volume attacks. Given that Celtic average 17.4 shots per game, the sheer weight of pressure is likely to force breaches in a backline that is prone to individual errors and struggles in aerial duels.
Livingston’s primary defensive strategy often involves an offside trap and an aggressive, direct approach to clear their lines. However, they are noted for being weak at defending attacks down the wings, which is precisely where this Celtic side excels. With the visitors frequently attempting through balls and prioritizing attacks down the left flank, the home side’s defensive shape is likely to be pulled apart. Even if the Lions find a way to strike on the transition through Jeremy Bokila, their tendency to concede at least once in 12 straight league games suggests that multiple goals will be required to get a result, making a high-scoring Celtic win the most logical outcome.
What could go wrong
The most significant threat to this selection is the potential for a “frustration game” on Livingston’s synthetic surface. If the home side’s offside trap is executed perfectly and Jerome Prior produces a standout performance in goal, Celtic’s high possession could result in a low-scoring 1-0 or 2-0 win that fails to clear the total goals hurdle. Additionally, any uncharacteristic wastefulness from a rotated Celtic frontline could keep the scoreline tighter than the statistical averages suggest.
Correct score lean: 0-3
A 3-0 victory for the visitors aligns with both recent history and current tactical trends. Celtic defeated this opponent by exactly this scoreline in August 2025 and have successfully shut them out in five consecutive league meetings. Given Livingston’s struggle to maintain possession (45.7%) and their bottom-of-the-table status, they are unlikely to generate the sustained pressure needed to beat Kasper Schmeichel, who leads the league in clean sheets. With Celtic’s high shot volume and Livingston’s weakness in avoiding fouls in dangerous areas, a comfortable three-goal margin reflects the expected dominance and defensive fragility involved.
Selected Bookmakers Offers
| |
New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. | |
| |
Open Account Offer - New Customers only. Bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets when you join bet365. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value settle. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs , time limits & exclusions apply. Registration Required. #Ad. 18+ Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. | |
| |
New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. Acca Club: Available to new & existing customers. 3 or more selections. Min Odds: 3/10 (1.3) per leg. Max stake: £500. Max Winnings: £200,000 per boost. Profit Boost amounts vary. Horse Racing, Greyhounds & Trotting excluded. Exclusions apply. Full T&C’s apply. 18+ GambleAware.org. | |
 | |
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs.+ deposit exclusions apply #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New bettors. Select bonus at signup or use code SPORT. Wager deposit & bonus 8x. Max qualifying bet = bonus. Valid 60 days. Odds, bet & payment limits apply. T&Cs Apply; 18+ | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
New customers only, 18+. Min deposit £10. Place a £50 bet on any sport at 2.0+ to qualify for £25 in free bets and 10 Free Spins. Free Bets and Spins valid 7 days. £0.10 Free Spins. T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals), placed & settled at 1.5 min odds in 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days, use on sportsbook only (ex. virtuals), stakes not returned. T&Cs Apply and deposit exclusions apply. Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
18+ New customers only. Opt in, and bet £10 on football markets (odds 2.00+). No cash out. Get 6x£5 football free bets at specified odds for set markets, which expire after 7 days. Offer valid from 12:00 UK Time on 25/08/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply | gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
