Scottish Premiership: Will Aberdeen prolong title race after Celtic visit?

Former Aberdeen manager Barry Robson, who also played for Celtic, believes the Dons need to follow the example of bravery and aggression shown on Sunday by Arne Slot’s Liverpool if they are to win on Wednesday.

“You can’t just go and open up and have a go against Celtic because of the quality they’ve got,” Robson told BBC Scotland. “It’s about getting the balance right: when to play, when to press, when to come off the game.

“Take the Liverpool game against Man City at the weekend there. It was the classic way of doing things.

“Liverpool pressed really well at times, they were so aggressive. At times they came off the game and, at times, they played. That’s what you need to get right – you need to get the balance of the whole thing right.”

Robson knows that is easier said that done, exemplified by Celtic’s 6-0 thrashing of Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden.

“It’s different to the two previous games,” he suggests. “Up at Pittodrie, it’s a lot more enclosed, you can get a bit closer to them and disrupt the game a bit more. It’s got a different feel to it, with the fans behind you on your home ground.”

Stopping midfield duo Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate is key to containing Celtic as a whole, suggests Robson.

“You’ve got to try to flood the middle of the pitch,” he said. “They’re so creative in there. You’ve got to counter-press well – any time you give the ball away, you’ve got to react quickly. You’ve got to get it back.

“You can’t let McGregor and Hatate enjoy the game. You’ve got to make sure you snap them out of their rhythm. And make sure you pass the ball forward quickly.

“That means punching balls into strikers and wide players and letting them go to try to hit Celtic. It’s just about being brave when you can.”