The festive period brings that rarity to the Scottish Premiership schedule – with all six matches on a map being played on the same day and at virtually the same time.
Only Hibernian against Celtic – due to start 15 minutes later – is not scheduled to start at 19:45 GMT on Wednesday, and there are some intriguing matches among the six.
There’s a decisive game at the bottom of the table and a key game in the race for the European places, as well as struggling teams trying to turn things around with games against the Old Firm.
Dundee United v Ross County (Wednesday, 7.45pm)
Dundee United boss Liam Fox has no new injury concerns to contend with as the Tangerines seek to overtake second-placed Ross County. Steven Fletcher should be fine after his clash with Craig Gordon.
Jack Baldwin returns to the visitors’ squad before missing the Aberdeen game through suspension. Ross Callachan has returned to action against Rangers and could get more playing time. Ben Purrington remains the only long-term absentee while Alex Samuel returns after nearly a year out with an ACL injury.
Dundee United midfielder Arnaud Djoum: “We know the Ross County game is huge for us to come off the bottom of the table.
“We don’t deserve to be here, but we have to show it on the pitch, not just by talking. We need points and we have to do everything to win against Ross County.”
Ross County defenseman Keith Watson: “We now have a decent run of encounters where we can hopefully build some momentum and start picking up points and moving up the leaderboard.
“Most games in this league are usually pretty close – it’s that kind of league – and previous games against Dundee United have always been pretty close games.
“We’ll have to be on it if we’re going to take all the points. We know Wednesday is going to be a big game and it’s the one we’re looking forward to. We just have to make sure we’re there.”
Did you know? In the 16 games between Dundee United and Ross County in Tannadice, there have been 10 wins for the home team, three wins for the visitors and three draws.
Kilmarnock v Aberdeen (7:45 p.m.)
Kilmarnock will be without Alan Power after the 34-year-old midfielder was sent off in the draw at Motherwell. Liam Polworth could replace him in the starting XI after his superb equalizer against Motherwell.
Aberdeen will be without Anthony Stewart as they seek to avoid four Premiership defeats in a row. The defender was sent off in the defeat at St Mirren, so left-back Jack MacKenzie – who came on at half-time as Jim Goodwin shuffled his 10-man squad – was able to start.
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: “It is important that we focus on our own performance, whatever team arrives and what form they are in.
“Defeats happen to all of us, it’s just about how you react to it. We think we had a good reaction to falling behind the other day at Motherwell.
“It’s important now that we focus on a great performance ourselves, it gives us a chance to win the game.”
Jim Goodwin, manager of Aberdeen: “The race we’re in at the moment, losing three games in a row, isn’t good enough for this club. We certainly aren’t having much luck at the moment.
“Hopefully we get a few more in the team to freshen things up. We have to pick ourselves up.”
Did you know? Kilmarnock have not beaten Aberdeen at Rugby Park since 2011, with the Dons having won 13 times in Ayrshire – including a 2-0 victory two years ago.
Livingston v St Mirren (7:45 p.m.)
Jason Holt is set to face St Mirren after Livingston appealed his red card against Hibernian. Joel Nouble is fighting to prove his fitness – the key striker has missed the last two games with a knee problem. Jamie Brandon and Tom Parkes are still missing with groin and knee issues respectively.
St Mirren will again be without striker Alex Greive, who is in New Zealand after a family bereavement. Full-back Richard Tait remains out after groin surgery.
Livingston manager David Martindale on Holt’s appeal: “There’s not a lot of money in Livingston, so players have a lot of appearance money and earn bonuses in their contracts. Jason could potentially miss two games and potentially a lot of money.”
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: “We have two tough games coming up on artificial surfaces, Livi and Kilmarnock. But we’ve been training on artificial surfaces for about three weeks now, so there can be no excuses.”
Did you know? The Saints are unbeaten in their last three league trips to the Tony Macaroni Arena and have not lost in their last eight league games against the Lions.
Rangers v Motherwell (7:45 p.m.)
Allan McGregor has recovered from illness and is available while Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe and Antonio Colak are also back in training. Michael Beale could freshen up the team that started against Ross County.
Motherwell has several injured first-team defenders so Paul McGinn, who was sent off with a knee injury to face Kilmarnock, could continue defending in the centre. Forwards Louis Moult and Joe Efford are still missing.
Rangers manager Michael Beale: “I just want the three points. I would like us to have more control and be stronger in our positioning and things in the final third will click into place. It’s the biggest group of players that I I’ve had to train since I got back. It’s great to see the group slowly come back.”
Motherwell manager Steven Hammell: “We need to end the Kilmarnock game (draw against 10 men) now and be as prepared as possible. We’re going to go out there and try to win the game, that’s never going to change.”
Did you know? Motherwell beat Rangers at Ibrox in league games in three out of four seasons from 1993 to 1994.
St Johnstone v Heart of Midlothian (19:45)
Cammy MacPherson is back in the St Johnstone squad as they look to move Hearts up to fourth. The Saints could finish the year third if they win and Aberdeen fail to beat Kilmarnock. Callum Booth is pushing for his comeback and Murray Davidson and Chris Kane aren’t far off from fitness.
Zander Clark will replace Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon in Hearts goal after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken leg. Both Stephen Kingsley and Craig Halkett are unlikely to be fit due to injuries picked up against Dundee United.
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: “It’s a big game – we have three or four really big games to finish the second quarter. We’re in a good position but we really need to focus and finish in the top six, so it’s a collective goal and a process of reflection with the players.”
Hearts midfielder Robert Snodgrass: “It’s a manager’s worst nightmare when you have to constantly adapt and change formation, system and personnel. It’s probably the most I’ve seen at any club I’ve been to. .”
Did you know? The Hearts haven’t won at McDiarmid Park in the league since November 2010, when a strike from Ryan Stevenson four minutes into added time decided the game.
Hibernian vs. Celtic (8:00 p.m.)
Hibernian will still be without injured midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes (ankle), forwards Martin Boyle and Mykola Kukharevych and right-back Lewis Miller, all with knee injuries.
Anthony Ralston is battling to overcome back pain while fellow right-back Josip Juranovic is not expected to feature after returning from the World Cup. James McCarthy (hamstring) and defender Stephen Welsh (niggle) remain absent for the visitors, who will be without David Turnbull after the midfielder was sent off against St Johnstone.
Hibernian defender Paul Hanlon: “We have to keep the ball as much as possible when we get it. They are a team that press high but we have to be brave and keep it as much as possible.
“We can’t sit for the whole game and just defend for our lives; we have to show some threat in attack, and being at Easter Road we certainly will.
“We will have a home crowd that will accept us and if we show early that we are committed and hungry and place tackles then the crowd will be right behind us.”
Celtic defender Carl Starfelt: “We are in a good position. But we can’t relax, we have to keep going in every game. We have to keep working hard and being humble.
“[Hibs are] a big challenge, a good team, always a difficult team to face.
“We have to go there with a very good mindset and work very hard and play our football. If we do that, we will give ourselves a very good chance of winning.”
Did you know? Celtic are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions at Easter Road – Hibs’ last victory was in 2018.
