All roads lead to Livingston as Brendan Rodgers Celtic strap themselves in and gear themselves up to be posed a West Lothian question of sport by David Martindale's men.

Will Rodgers men suffer from any kind of Champions League group stage hangover after their 2-0 opening Group E defeat at the hands of Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Tuesday night?

There is no time for the Scottish champions to feel sorry for themselves as they visit the Tony Macaroni arena where they have come a cropper in the past.

There is a real incentive for the early Premiership pacesetters to eke out a victory as a win would move the men in green and white seven points clear of their city rivals Rangers for 24 hours at least.

So which members of his personnel will Rodgers turn to in order to tame the Lions?

Our writers have their say…

Tony Haggerty

There is an old adage that if ain't broken then there is no need to fix it.

Whilst it came apart for Celtic on either side of the half-time interval in Holland on Tuesday night, for the best part of 45 minutes Rodgers team were well and truly in the contest. Despite having several players below par Celtic still managed to contain Feyenoord and look threatening in the De Kuip Stadium in the opening period.

By that reckoning, there is the possibility that Rodgers will give the same starting XI a redemption shot at the weekend. Nobody needs to emphasise how crucial collecting all three points would be for Celtic even at this early juncture in the campaign.

Courtesy of their Champions League exploits up until Christmas at least the champions will be in action most Saturdays and will have the opportunity to ramp up the pressure on their city rivals which they can ill-afford to pass on.

The Livingston encounter is the first chance that Celtic have had this season to open up some real daylight between themselves and Michael Beale's men by extending their lead at the top of the tree to seven points. 

The drastic plastic surface will always rear its ugly head whenever these occasions arise but Rodgers has admitted that it will not be used as an excuse should Celtic fall below the levels that are expected nay demanded at the club.

For those reasons, Joe Hart will be in goals despite his error in midweek although he does deserve enormous credit for saving a penalty. Alistair Johnston and Greg Taylor will occupy the right and left back roles respectively. Red card bad boy Gustaf Lagerbielke will be entrusted to partner the blossoming Liam Scales in central defence. The Irishman really is playing out of his skin at the moment.

Reo Hatate did not cover himself in glory against Feyenoord but the same could also be said of captain Callum McGregor. Danish under-21 international Matt O'Riley could hold his head high after another stellar display. O'Riley has been something of a star performer already this season for Celtic and has rightfully won plaudits. He is certainly enjoying a new lease of life under Rodgers and has added goals to his armoury certainly in a domestic capacity. All three midfielders will be given the nod once again to take the fight to Livingston. Failure in this kind of match is not an option.

This leaves the forward positions and it will be very much as you were as new Honduran signing Luis Palma will be given more game time and the chance to stake a claim for a longer run in the side. Palma may well have been ring-rusty in the Netherlands but there was the odd glimpse that showed that he could be a difference-maker. He will be deployed on the left wing and it will be interesting to see if this is finally the day when the Celtic fans are treated to his dead-ball expertise from free-kicks in and around the box. Daizen Maeda will occupy the right-wing berth.

The focal point in attack as always will be Japan striker Kyogo Furuhashi. His Champions League group-stage goal drought may have continued in midweek but he will be keen to focus on the here and now. He has five more Champions League group-stage matches to get that monkey off his back. The lethal attacker rammed home a belter to open the scoring in a 3-0 win for the visitors on his last outing in the Tony Macaroni arena and he, Rodgers and the Celtic faithful will be hoping for more of the same again.

Tony's team: Hart; Johnston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate; Maeda, O'Riley, Palma; Kyogo

Ryan McGinlay

Despite Celtic and Rodgers suffering defeat at the hands of Feyenoord, you can expect essentially the same team against Livingston at the Toni Macaroni arena.

The side must return to winning ways against Martindale’s side, so what better way than to give the same players the chance to make things right? There is more than enough firepower to blaze past Livingston if the following team is anywhere near their best…

In goals, Hart will remain, despite his mistake the other night. It must be highlighted that he did save a penalty in the second half, so it was not a complete off night for the former England international. Lagerbielke and Scales will occupy the two centre-back positions, with the latter looking to truly consolidate himself in the team before the return of Phillips. The former will have to make amends for his red card, as his receiving of a second yellow was the moment that effectively sealed the game for Feyenoord. Still, he is just in the door, and Rodgers will persevere with his new defender. Johnston and Greg Taylor will take up their respective full-back spots as always.

In the midfield, it will be unchanged, as captain McGregor will be joined by both Hatate and O’Riley in the midfield. Hatate had a bit of a howler last time out and will be looking to get more minutes into his legs following his return to the team last week against Dundee. O’Riley was sublime for Celtic in Rotterdam and genuinely has a case for being Celtic’s best player in every game thus far. If the season were to end tomorrow, then he would be named Player of the Year by a landslide, that’s how good he has been for Celtic in the short duration of this fresh season.

In the wing positions, Rodgers will elect to stick with the duo of Palma and Maeda, who both had chances on Tuesday in the Champions League. Hopefully, both have their shooting boots on and can ease the load of Furuhashi, who will no doubt lead the line for the champions. Despite his endeavour, he had very few touches of the ball in midweek, and his participation on the attacking side will be greatly appreciated at the Tony Macaroni on Saturday lunchtime. Feed Kyogo, and he will score. That should be the message to the likes of Maeda and Palma on each wing.

Ryan's team: Hart; Johnston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate; Maeda, O'Riley, Palma; Kyogo