Edinburgh derby, Askou & Hatate in spotlight

The Scottish Premiership fixture list for December 27 is one to look forward to, with significant matches at the top and bottom of the division. It isn’t the traditional Boxing Day card for this season.

In Saturday’s early kick-off, Hibernian welcome Edinburgh rival Hearts to Easter Road, while Rangers host Motherwell at Ibrox while defending champions Celtic travel to bottom club Livingston.

In the late kick-off, Aberdeen travel to Paisley to face Dundee United, while Dundee hosts Falkirk, and Kilmarnock travels to Paisley to face St Mirren.

The Edinburgh derby, which took place two days after Rangers’ first meeting, is undoubtedly the standout fixture against Motherwell, despite the fact that Motherwell’s match certainly caught the eye.

If Hearts win and Livingston shock Celtic at Almondvale, they could increase their lead by nine points, strengthening their hold on the top spot.

Hearts boss Derek McInnes is aware that a victory would give the team new momentum heading into 2026 despite the events in West Lothian.

Before a mouthwatering match at Tynecastle against Celtic on January 25, they have favorable fixtures in the new year against bottom-half rivals Livingston, Dundee, and St Mirren.

Hibs is able to stay within one point of Rangers in fourth with the tantalizing prospect of stalling Hearts’ title challenge and the knowledge that three points will bring them within one point of Rangers.

No Premiership player has this season’s opening more chances from open play (26) than Reo Hatate from Celtic, and only Alexandros Kyziridis (3. 9) has more anticipated assists than the Japan international (3.2).

Hatate is expected to play for Celtic against Livingston after missing last year’s game against Aberdeen due to illness.

Under new manager Wilfried Nancy, he has started four of the Frenchman’s five games as one of two number 10s in his much-discussed 3-4-3 formation.

Hatate showed he could fit in the new system by scoring in St Mirren’s Premier Sports Cup final defeat and creating chances in each of those three league games despite having lost in each of those games.

Hatate has consistently been one of Celtic’s top performers since leaving Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022, and raw statistics indicate that he still plays an integral role in their attacking attack.

Unquestionably the best team to watch in the Premiership this year, Motherwell, who have undoubtedly been the most successful team in Scotland’s top flight.

Since joining the summer, Jens Berthel Askou, a coach who has a much bigger budget, has created an eye-catching possession-based style.

Only Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland has scored more goals in the Premiership than Tawanda Maswanhise this season, while Elijah Just has excelled in midfield and Elliot Watt has excelled under Askou’s leadership.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Askou’s setup was at the back, though.

Motherwell have six straight clean sheets and haven’t conceded in their past ten league games.

All-season, they have only conceded 15 goals in the league, which is a league record better than that of Celtic and Hearts (both 14).

According to research from my knowledgeable colleague Nick McPheat, Motherwell have the best defensive record in a top-flight campaign ever, conceding 0.83 goals per game on average since the 1931–32 season, when they won the title.

Defenses win titles, but attacks win matches. Before they face Rangers at Ibrox, the Steelmen and Askou will have a festive omen of cheer.