Chris Sutton says he ‘just can’t see’ former club Celtic prevailing in the title race – or in Sunday’s Old Firm derby.
And the Parkhead legend views current leaders Hearts as the likeliest winners of the Premiership.
‘It’s going to be epic, these last 10 games for Hearts,’ Sutton told Sky Sports. ‘I still make them favourites. My gut feeling is that all three sides will drop points on this run-in, so I’d rather be where Hearts are.
‘They’ve got that four-point gap on Rangers, and then Celtic have a game in hand, but Celtic don’t have the strength which they’ve had in previous seasons.
‘Celtic have really got to up their game if they want to win the title, but I just can’t see it for Celtic this season.
‘We’re calling it a three-horse race, there is a chance that Motherwell could sneak it as well. It’s the best title race I can remember from playing or doing the punditry work up there. It’s absolutely fascinating. This could go any way. It really, really could.”’
Martin O’Neill’s side are up against it this season, says former Celtic star Chris Sutton
Hearts have the chance to steal a further march on the two Glasgow clubs when they face Aberdeen on Saturday, with Rangers and Celtic locking horns at Ibrox the following day.
‘I think that all the clubs at the top are capable of beating each other, so I don’t think it’s a defining game, but obviously it’s absolutely huge,’ said Sutton.
‘If it’s a draw, I think it’s going to suit Hearts. At this moment in time, with Celtic and the way the season has gone, I think everybody, every sensible person, would make Rangers favourites for Sunday.
‘With the nature of Celtic’s season, the bad feeling from part of the fanbase and Celtic’s hierarchy, I think Rangers are in a better position.
‘Rangers are a more harmonious club at this moment in time. But they’re still a team who I think have got a slip-up in them, as proven at the weekend against Livingston.
‘Sunday is such a huge match because of what’s at stake. And not just the rivalry on this occasion, it’s really important for both teams that they want to win the game, just to try and keep the pressure on Hearts.
‘Nobody really saw Hearts at the start of the season being in this position, and people are thinking they’re going to fall away. But why would they fall away?
‘They’ve been at the top by rights all season. They’ve recruited OK in January. I don’t think Celtic’s recruitment has been on point by any stretch of the imagination.
‘And Rangers have recruited okay as well. I thought it would be about the January arms race and who would get the better of that. And I think Celtic are bottom of that arms race.’
