Andy Halliday Makes Dramatic Celtic U-Turn After Rangers Prediction Spectacularly Backfires
Andy Halliday has completely changed his prediction for the Scottish Premiership title after just two games of the new season – and he now firmly believes Celtic will be crowned champions in May.
The former Rangers midfielder had confidently backed his old club to reclaim the league title this campaign. At the same time, he forecast a difficult season ahead for Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side. Two matches into the new term, however, Halliday is already forced to reconsider almost everything he said.
What looked like a bold and reasoned prediction only a few weeks ago has quickly unravelled. The early evidence on the pitch has left the pundit eating his words in public, and Celtic fans are enjoying every second of it.
Rangers’ Alarming Start Puts Pressure on McInnes
Rangers opened their league campaign with a disappointing draw away to Dundee United. That result was followed by an even more damaging 2-1 defeat to Hibernian at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon. Derek McInnes’ side have now taken just one point from their opening two Premiership fixtures, and the pressure is already mounting on the new Rangers manager.
The defeat at home to Hibs was particularly painful. Ibrox has traditionally been a fortress, yet the visitors left with all three points and left Rangers looking short of ideas and intensity. Fans who expected a strong response under the new regime are already voicing frustration. One point from six available is simply not the start anyone associated with the club had in mind.
McInnes arrived with a reputation for organisation and results, but the early performances have raised immediate questions about squad balance and the quality of the summer recruitment. Nine new faces have come through the door, yet the team still looks short of cohesion and cutting edge in key areas.
Celtic’s Perfect Start and the Kilmarnock Statement
Celtic, by contrast, have made a perfect start to the season. After scraping past Dundee on the opening night of the campaign, Martin O’Neill’s side produced a completely transformed performance at Rugby Park. They smashed five goals past Kilmarnock in a brilliant, high-tempo attacking display that left supporters dreaming of better days ahead.
Kasper Høgh announced himself in spectacular fashion with a clinical hat-trick. Benjamin Nygren and Luke McCowan also got on the scoresheet as Celtic tore through their hosts. The performance was a statement of intent and the clearest sign yet that O’Neill’s methods are beginning to take hold.
The contrast with Rangers could hardly have been starker. While the Ibrox side looked laboured and disjointed, Celtic looked sharp, confident and full of attacking purpose. That single afternoon at Rugby Park appears to have shifted the narrative of the early season and forced several observers – including Halliday – to revise their thinking.
Halliday’s Honest Admission on Sportscene
Speaking on BBC Sportscene, Halliday admitted that his original prediction now looks increasingly questionable. He did not attempt to dodge the issue or dress it up. Instead, he delivered a frank and somewhat humorous climbdown that has already been widely shared among supporters of both clubs.
“I think Celtic will win the league. Like I have told you before, I am terrible at making predictions, but I will be bold enough to give them,” Halliday said.
“I actually predicted Rangers to win the league. I think it was about three or four weeks ago. My reason for that was, at that point in time, I said I think Rangers will still spend about £15-20 million worth of players. And I think Celtic will lose a lot of key players.”
He continued: “In that short space of time, the only one who has left is Maeda. I thought Engels, Nygren and Alistair Johnston. I thought these players would be away at that point in time.”
The honesty is refreshing. Halliday made no attempt to pretend he had always seen Celtic as favourites. He openly admitted that events on and off the pitch had forced him to change his mind after only two matches.
Recruitment Reality Check: Celtic’s Two Signings vs Rangers’ Nine
What has particularly altered Halliday’s outlook is the nature of the two clubs’ summer recruitment. Celtic have only brought in Kasper Høgh and Camilo Duran so far, yet both players already look as though they have improved the squad.
“But I spoke about Rangers, for me, not having improved in key areas,” Halliday explained. “But I look at Kasper Hogh. I look at Camilo Duran. They might have only made two signings at Celtic, but two of them look like they have improved them. Whereas Rangers have made nine now? Other than one or two, I am not sure it’s an improvement from last year.”
That assessment cuts to the heart of the early-season debate. Volume of signings does not automatically equal quality or improvement. Rangers have been busy in the transfer market, but the early evidence suggests the new arrivals have not yet elevated the team. Celtic, operating with far fewer additions, already appear stronger and more coherent.
Høgh’s hat-trick against Kilmarnock was the obvious headline. The Danish forward looked sharp, clinical and full of confidence. Duran has shown flashes of the quality that persuaded Celtic to bring him in from Qarabag. Both players have given the attacking options a different dimension and given O’Neill more flexibility in the final third.
The Transfer Window Context Halliday Got Wrong
Just a few weeks ago, Halliday expected Rangers to spend heavily and Celtic to lose several of their key players. The reality has been almost the opposite. Daizen Maeda is the only major departure from Celtic Park so far. Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston remain at the club – for now – while Nygren continues to feature.
That stability has given O’Neill a stronger platform than many anticipated. Instead of rebuilding after significant exits, the Celtic manager has been able to integrate two new attacking options into a largely familiar group. The early results suggest that approach is working.
Rangers, meanwhile, have changed a large portion of their squad yet still look short of identity and intensity. The volume of new faces has not translated into clear progress on the pitch. That gap between expectation and delivery is exactly what has forced Halliday to reverse his earlier call.
What Comes Next for Both Clubs
The bigger question now is what happens over the remainder of the transfer window and into the autumn. Celtic still need reinforcements, particularly out wide and in midfield. The futures of Engels and Johnston remain uncertain, and any late departures would force O’Neill back to the drawing board.
Rangers, for their part, have plenty of new faces but are yet to show that the volume of recruitment has produced a better team. McInnes needs results quickly if the early pressure is not to intensify. Supporters who expected an immediate challenge for the title are already growing restless after just two games.
Halliday’s prediction may have changed after only two matches, but the season is still in its infancy. Two results do not define a campaign. Yet the early evidence has been clear enough to make a seasoned observer change his mind in public – and that in itself is significant.
If Celtic continue producing performances of the quality shown at Rugby Park, Halliday will not be the last person forced to reconsider who will be lifting the trophy next May. The title race remains open, but the early narrative has already shifted firmly in Celtic’s favour.
For now, the former Rangers midfielder has performed a complete U-turn. And if the current form continues, many more will be following him down the same path before the season is much older.