Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers insists his side will not play down their role as favourites heading into the highly anticipated league return of the Old Firm derby.

Celtic sit a point above city rivals Rangers with a game in hand ahead of the tie, and Rodgers wants his players to live up to their tag as the likely victors.

Talking about that label he said: "When you are Celtic and you play every game, especially at home, it is what is expected of you.

"We are not running away to say we don't want to be the favourites for the game.

"Whether we were playing Rangers, Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Hearts, whoever we play at home, the objective going into the game is to win.

"It's a huge game, a big game, but one that we want to win, like every game at Celtic Park."