* Celtic destroyed the Ibrox side in the first Old Firm League Cup final meeting, when a hat-trick of headers by Billy McPhail, a double from Neil Mochan and goals from Sammy Wilson and Willie Fernie secured a 7-1 win for the Bhoys during the 1957-58 season
* The last time the sides met in the final at Hampden in 2009, it was extra-time goals from Irish internationals Darren O’Dea and Aiden McGeady that helped Celtic claim the trophy, while the Ibrox side had Kirk Broadfoot sent off.
* Celtic claimed the record for the most consecutive Scottish League Cup final appearances, with the Parkhead side visiting Hampden 14 times between 1965 and 1978.
* Neil Lennon’s side will be looking to claim their fourth Old Firm victory of the season, having beaten the Ibrox men twice in the League and also sending them crashing out of the Scottish Cup at the start of the month.
* Celtic secured their passage to the final with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Aberdeen, with Kris Commons, Charlie Mulgrew, Thomas Rogne and Anthony Stokes all scoring for the Parkhead side, while Scott Vernon claimed a consolation for Craig Brown’s men.
* Rangers currently hold a 12 trophy lead over their Old Firm rivals, having claimed the cup 26 times while the Parkhead team have only been able to get their hand of the League Cup 14 times.
* The Ibrox side also hold the advantage when it comes to Old Firm League Cup finals, having beaten Celtic eight times, while only losing five times to the Hoops in the 13 games in which they have met
* Walter Smith’s side have been involved in the last three League Cup finals, beating Dundee United in 2008 and St Mirren in 2010, while suffering defeat at the hands of Celtic in the 2009 final.
* The first ever League Cup was claimed by Rangers on April 5 1947, when a double from Jimmy Duncanson and goals from Torrance Gillick, Billy Williamson saw the Ibrox side defeat Aberdeen in the final.
* Rangers claimed their place in the League Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Motherwell. Maurice Edu and Steven Naismith were on the scoresheet for the Ibrox side, while Keith Lasley scored for the Lanarkshire men.
LAST MEETING
March, 2 2011: Celtic 1-0 Rangers
A second half Mark Wilson strike claimed a Scottish Cup replay victory for the Parkhead side in the most controversial Old Firm derby of the season, as Steven Whittaker, Madjid Bougherra and El Hadji Diouf were all sent off, while Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist and Celtic gaffer Neil Lennon both received bans for a confrontation after the final whistle.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Celtic - Emilio Izaguirre: The flying Honduran full-back has been a revelation since his summer move from Motagua in his homeland. A crowd favourite for the Parkhead side, Izaguirre will be a key figure for Celtic during the final.
Rangers - El Hadji Diouf: The on-loan Blackburn forward scored his first SPL goal last week for the Ibrox side in their victory over Kilmarnock, and the Senegal international will be looking to redeem himself after being sent off in the previous Old Firm clash.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Celtic: Forster; Wilson, Rogne, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Brown, Kayal, Ledley, Commons; Hooper Samaras.
Rangers: Alexander; Whittaker, Weir, Bougherra, Papac; Naismith, Davis, Edu, Wylde; Diouf Jelavic.
PREDICTION
The Rangers squad was already at breaking point before Walter Smith’s side lost both Kyle Bartley and Kyle Lafferty during their Europa League defeat to PSV Eindhoven, while Celtic can welcome back both Mark Wilson and Scott Brown to strengthen their squad even further after their victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Wednesday, which will make Neil Lennon even more confident about claiming his first trophy as Celtic manager.
Celtic 2-0 Rangers
