Exciting Boxing Day Fixtures in Scottish Premiership
This year's Boxing Day fixtures in the Scottish Premiership may not follow tradition, but the matches scheduled for December 27 promise to be exciting, featuring key contests both at the top and bottom of the league.
Hibernian will host their Edinburgh rivals Hearts in the early kick-off at Easter Road. Defending champions Celtic will visit bottom-placed Livingston, while a crucial fourth versus third match will see Rangers take on Motherwell at Ibrox.
Meanwhile, struggling Kilmarnock will travel to Paisley to face St Mirren, Dundee will host Falkirk, and Aberdeen will meet Dundee United in the late kick-off.
Here are some key highlights to watch for this matchday.
Game of the Day - Hibernian vs. Hearts (12:30 GMT)
While Rangers' match against Motherwell is certainly noteworthy, the standout fixture of Saturday is undoubtedly the Edinburgh derby, marking 150 years and two days since the first encounter between these teams.
Hearts have a chance to solidify their lead at the top of the table, potentially going nine points clear with a victory, especially if Livingston manages to upset Celtic at Almondvale.
Regardless of the outcome in West Lothian, Hearts manager Derek McInnes understands that a win would provide valuable momentum heading into 2026, following recent victories against both Old Firm teams this month.
Hearts will face favorable matchups in the new year against lower-ranked teams like Livingston, Dundee, and St Mirren, before a highly anticipated clash against Celtic at Tynecastle on January 25.
For Hibernian, the match presents not only the chance to hinder Hearts' title aspirations but also the opportunity to close the gap to just one point behind Rangers in fourth place.
The first Edinburgh derby of the season in October was fiercely contested, with Hearts defender Craig Halkett scoring the only goal in the 91st minute, volleying home a cross from Sabah Kerjota.
Player to Watch - Reo Hatate (Celtic)
Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate has been a standout performer in the Premiership, leading the league with 26 chances created from open play. Only Hearts winger Alexandros Kyziridis has a higher expected assists total from open play than Hatate.
Having missed Celtic's previous match against Aberdeen due to illness, Hatate is expected to return for the trip to Livingston.
Under new manager Wilfried Nancy, Hatate has played a crucial role, starting four of Nancy's five matches in charge and contributing significantly in the 3-4-3 formation.
Despite the team's struggles in those matches, Hatate has adapted well, scoring in the Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren and creating numerous chances in league play.
Since joining from Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022, Hatate has consistently been central to Celtic's attacking efforts. If Nancy aims to build on his first win as Celtic's manager and keep pace with Hearts, Hatate's creative contributions will be essential.
Manager in the Spotlight - Jens Berthel Askou (Motherwell)
Motherwell has emerged as one of the most entertaining teams in the Premiership this season, significantly exceeding expectations under manager Jens Berthel Askou.
Since his arrival in the summer, Askou has introduced an attractive possession-based style that has eluded many coaches with larger budgets.
Midfielder Elliot Watt has been a revelation, while Elijah Just has integrated smoothly into the team after previously working with Askou at Danish club Horsens. Notably, only Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland has scored more goals than Tawanda Maswanhise this season.
Defensively, Askou's setup has been particularly impressive. Motherwell remains unbeaten in their last 10 league matches and has not conceded in over a month, achieving six consecutive clean sheets.
With only 15 goals conceded all season, their defensive record is only surpassed by Celtic and Hearts, both with 14 goals against.
Research indicates that Motherwell is enjoying their best defensive performance in a top-flight campaign since the 1931–32 season, when they won the title, averaging just 0.83 goals conceded per match.
While attacks win matches, solid defenses are crucial for winning titles. This presents a positive omen for Motherwell and Askou as they prepare to face Rangers at Ibrox. Given Rangers' struggles in attack this season, it wouldn't be surprising to see Motherwell's impressive form continue into 2026.