SPFL Matchday 8 preview: Four matches Saturday, two Sunday

After all Matchday 7 contests in the SPFL were postponed due to Queen Elizabeth II’s death, the Cinch Premiership is back this weekend for Matchday 8.

The weekend calendar features some interesting matchups and the middle of the SPFL table might look drastically different on Sunday evening. It should be extremely fun to watch it all play out.

Here is a preview of each match this weekend, with the host stadium in parentheses, the time of kick-off (local time), and a synopsis.

SPFL Matchday 8

Rangers v Dundee United (Ibrox Stadium) – Saturday 12:00

Rangers come into this match on a three-match losing streak. Two weekends ago, they lost the Glasgow Derby to Celtic 4-0 and then followed that up with another 4-0 loss to Ajax in the Champions League.

On Wednesday, they lost at home to Napoli 3-0 in their second Champions League match of the group stage. That means in their last three competitive matches, Rangers are 0-0-3 and have been outscored 11-0.

Rangers are looking to break out of this slump against bottom of the league Dundee United.

United has yet to win a game this season, but have improved results after their 9-0 loss to Celtic and Jack Ross’ firing. In the second round of the Scottish League Cup, United beat Livingston 2-1 and then they tied Motherwell 0-0 last matchday.

Livingston v Kilmarnock (Tony Macaroni Arena) – Saturday 15:00

Livingston has had an interesting start to this season. They started well, winning two of their first three games, but then they lost their last four competitive matches including crashing out of the Scottish League Cup to Dundee United two weeks ago. Last game, they were able to break out of their slump by beating Hearts 1-0.

Kilmarnock lost their first four matches of the season but fortunately followed that up with back-to-back wins including knocking out Hearts in the League Cup. Their last time out they lost to Hibernian 1-0 after Ash Taylor received an early red card.

St. Johnstone v Ross County (McDiarmid Park) – Saturday 15:00

St. Johnstone are in fine form. After losing their first four matches, they have won their last two matches including beating St. Mirren 3-0 on Matchday 6.

On the other hand, Ross County is coming off a hard-earned 1-1 draw with Aberdeen as William Akio scored in the 95th minute to give County a point. Ross County’s only win of the season came against Kilmarnock on Matchday 4.

Hibernian v Aberdeen (Easter Road Stadium) – Saturday 15:00

Hibernian comes into this match after winning their second game of this campaign, beating Kilmarnock. In their last five matches, Hibs have 1 win, 2 draws, and 3 losses.

Aberdeen had an outstanding opportunity to pick up points on Rangers in their last SPFL game but failed to do so as they allowed a late injury-time goal to Ross County and tied 1-1. Before that match, Aberdeen was on a three-game domestic winning streak.

St. Mirren v Celtic (The SMISA Stadium) – Sunday 12:00

St. Mirren have had an interesting season, thus far. After dropping their first two matches, they responded with three straight wins, but last matchday they lost in convincing fashion to St. Johnstone 3-0.

In Champions League Matchday 1, Celtic lost their first competitive match of the campaign as they lost 3-0 to Real Madrid at Celtic Park. Celtic then followed that defeat up with a 1-1 tie in Poland against FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

In both of these matches, especially versus Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic had multiple opportunities to score but failed time and again to find the back of the opposition’s net. It will be interesting to watch if Celtic can figure out their goal-scoring woes on the road against St. Mirren.

Motherwell v. Hearts (Fir Park)- Sunday 15:00

Motherwell has been inconsistent this season and this has landed them 5th in the table as they host Hearts.

On Matchday 6, Motherwell controlled the match against Dundee United but failed to muster any goals as the sides split the points in a 0-0 draw.

Hearts are back in action after playing in two straight games in the UEFA Europa Conference League. On Matchday 1 they were outclassed by Istanbul Basaksehir and lost 4-0, then went to Latvia on Thursday and won their first game of the group stages by beating RFS 2-0 in an extremely fun to watch game.

SPFL Supporters: What are your predictions for each match this week? Leave your comments below!