Brendan Rodgers knows what it takes to secure a win for Celtic away at Motherwell. The manager has guided the Glasgow giants through several challenging encounters at Fir Park, where the hosts have often pushed them to the limit.
Tom Rogic was known for his late-game heroics at the venue, while Matt O’Riley sealed a dramatic last-minute victory last season. Overall, Fir Park has been a favorable ground for Rodgers and his squad, but this weekend presents a new challenge.
Celtic are coming off a physically demanding midweek match in Bergamo, where they earned a hard-fought draw against Atalanta. The grueling 90 minutes took its toll, and Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell will have his team prepared to challenge Celtic’s defense, especially after their display on Wednesday.
Rodgers is well aware of the challenge ahead. He knows that Kettlewell will have his side ready for a battle.
“It’s always been a tough place to go,” Rodgers admitted. “I always really enjoy going there. It’s always a really good atmosphere. We bring great support behind the goals. So, yes, they’re always tough games.”
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | Points |
| 1 |  Celtic |
8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 21 | 22 |
| 2 |  Aberdeen |
8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 22 |
| 3 |  Rangers |
8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 16 |
| 4 |  Dundee Utd |
8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 15 |
| 5 |  Motherwell |
8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 13 |
| 6 |  Dundee |
8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 9 |
| 7 |  Kilmarnock |
8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 9 |
| 8 |  ST Mirren |
9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 18 | -7 | 8 |
| 9 |  ST Johnstone |
9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 19 | -8 | 7 |
| 10 |  Ross County |
9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 7 |
| 11 |  Heart Of Midlothian |
9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 5 |
| 12 |  Hibernian |
8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 5 |
Rodgers reflected on Celtic’s recent record of late winners against Motherwell:
“Stuart has his team well-prepared. They often switch between a back five and, depending on the setup, may use two strikers with three midfielders or a 3-4-3 formation. Lately, they’ve favored a 5-3-2. So, we’re expecting a well-organized side. Stuart is very effective at organizing his teams; they’re disciplined and committed.
“They’ll be disappointed with their last result, so they’ll be eager to bounce back. As for us, after a Champions League match, we know what’s required—plenty of energy, a strong mentality, and maintaining our excellent start to the season.”
The tough battles Rodgers and Celtic have faced at Fir Park likely linger in the memories of Motherwell’s players—but not in a positive way.
For Celtic, it’s a different story. They currently sit at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, and Fir Park holds special significance for Rodgers, as some of his best memories in the league come from there.
“Are those wins more satisfying? Yes, especially some from last season,” he continued.
“In a few of those games, when we were pushing for a late winner, Matt (O’Riley) scored a fantastic goal at the back post. It would have been easy to just launch the ball forward, but we stayed composed, made a perfect cross from the half-space, and got the winner.
“That’s everything we aim for. So, yes, scoring a late winner away from home is always a great feeling, especially for the fans. But ultimately, no matter how it happens, you just want to win.”
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