The goalless draw against Kairat in the first leg at Parkhead has put Celtic in a very tough spot. They need to qualify for the Champions League. But when you look at the Hoops' away record in European competitions in recent times and the trip to Kazakhstan that awaits, it does not fill anybody confidence about their chances heading into the second leg.
In football, it is important to take one game at a time though. Celtic have a game against Livingston to take care of before they can start thinking about the one vs Kairat.
Brendan Rodgers has taken a bold decision heading into the game against Livingston. He has named a risky starting XI in the Scottish Premiership game.
You would not expect to see about eight of the eleven players that Rodgers has named in Celtic's strongest XI right now. So, there is a very real risk that too many changes have been made at once and the Hoops could stumble, and drop points, which is the last thing that this team needs right now.
Brendan Rodgers takes major risk before Celtic's UCL qualifier
Of course, it is not Rodgers' fault that he finds himself in this situation. The manager should have been backed in the summer transfer window, before the Champions League qualifier and he was not. And looking at the Hoops' starting XI against Livingston, they have very little in the name of depth right now.
Let's see how things play out against Livingston. Rodgers has taken a risk for sure, but perhaps an important one. Hopefully, this team will have enough in the tank to get a result.
If they don't, it will put further pressure on Celtic to win against Kairat in midweek. Otherwise, all of this would have been for absolutely nothing.