Philippe Clement, Makenzie Kirk and Dundee Utd against Celtic in focus

On By Littum

Will Sunday prove to be a happy anniversary for United?

It will be almost exactly a decade since Celtic last lost at Tannadice as goals from Nadir Ciftci and Stuart Armstrong – who would both go on to play for the visitors – put United on course for victory before a late reply from Leigh Griffiths.

That was Sunday 21 December 2014 and Tannadice has been a happy hunting ground ever since for the Glasgow side, who are unbeaten there in 11 visits, winning seven and scoring 18 goals in their last five.

Half of those came in a famous win in August 2022, in which striker Kyogo Furuhashi – who is one of five survivors from the starting line-up that day still in the squad – grabbed a hat-trick.

Celtic would go on to win their 53rd Scottish league title that season and can focus on consolidating their pole position this campaign after securing first silverware of the season with Sunday’s League Cup final thriller against Rangers.

Brendan Rodgers’ side arrive on Tayside for the first meeting of the season with United unbeaten in 15 games, seven of them away from Celtic Park, since Borussia Dortmund’s 7-1 Champions League hammering.

It remains their only defeat in 25 games this season.

With second-placed Aberdeen and Rangers both at home on Saturday, Celtic may find their lead at the top reduced come the midday kick-off, but there has been no sign this season of that kind of pressure having any effect – on Rodgers’ side.

Being nine points ahead of the Dons – and two more ahead of their city rivals – gives plenty of room in any case as they seek a 10th straight away win.

With 14 wins and a draw, this is actually Celtic’s joint-best start to a league season after 15 games – matching the 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2016-17 seasons.

They are also unbeaten in 19 meetings overall against United, who lost 4-3 at Motherwell on Saturday to concede fourth place to their hosts.

However, a visit to Tannadice should still be one of Celtic’s toughest domestic tests, with Jim Goodwin’s promoted side having gone into that Motherwell game on their own five-match unbeaten run.