Sir Kenny Dalglish: Will Celtic win the title or can Rangers stop them? Let me get back to you on September 8

This is the time of year I sit down and make my predictions for the SPFL Premiership season.

Right now, I think St Mirren and Livingston will be in the bottom two spots.

Towards the other end, I strongly fancy Hibernian and Aberdeen to be battling for third place.

And after two fantastic seasons under Steve Clarke, I think Kilmarnock will take a dip and drop out of the top six.

Of course, the burning question is who is going to win the title? Will Celtic do nine-in-a-row, or will Rangers stop them?

Honestly, this is the closest one to call yet.

I don’t even think the thickness of the page this is written on separates the teams. The gap has been closed significantly by Steven Gerrard.

So please come back to me in the middle of next May and I’ll make my prediction then!

But, seriously, I’m going to hold off making a prediction until after the transfer window closes.

I believe there will still be important business completed at both clubs between now and the beginning of September.

That is not me shirking away from giving my opinion. It’s just being realistic.

So put Sunday, September 8 in your diary for the big verdict!

A lot can change between now and then.

If Rangers sold Alfredo Morelos and didn’t bring in another quality centre-forward alongside Jermain Defoe in their squad, that could be the difference between winning the title and being runners-up.

Will they definitely be able to keep James Tavernier, their captain and one of their most-influential performers?

Will Liverpool allow Ryan Kent to go back to Ibrox on loan? That would be a significant boost if it happened, and there would be a bit of dejection amongst the Light Blues support if it doesn’t come off.

If Celtic lose Kieran Tierney, that most definitely weakens their squad.

The other question is what kind of player will they bring in for the right-back role to replace Mikael Lustig?

So there is a strong chance Neil Lennon’s team could be weaker in both full-back areas, and that would be a concern for them, particularly with the style of football they like to play.

However, if Celtic can keep the core of their team available, then they will take some beating.

Scott Brown, Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Odsonne Edouard will all be massive players, the ones Neil will trust to get them over the line in every game.

Just before the transfer window closes, we will have an idea of where it’s all going after the first Old Firm game of the campaign.

The teams meet at Ibrox in the fourth round of fixtures – and what a 90 minutes that is going to be.

Rangers won both encounters on their own patch last season, so they know they can more than compete with their rivals.

Their problem is beating the other teams on a regular basis.

That is where they faltered last season because they didn’t beat the likes of Aberdeen, Hibernian and Kilmarnock often enough.

Rangers dropped 10 points to Killie last season. They also lost to Livingston and drew with Dundee, St Johnstone and Motherwell – all bottom-six sides.

Steven Gerrard and his players know they can’t afford that this time. There needs to be a greater level of consistency.

Sure, Celtic also dropped lots of points last term, but they also dug in after the winter break to get crucial, last-gasp winners against Kilmarnock, Hearts, Dundee and Rangers.

That is why they are the champions, and why other teams haven’t got close enough in the past eight years to really push them all the way.

All in all, it makes for a fantastic season. And no one should be complaining about that.

There will be drama, brilliance and controversy.

Stadiums around the country will be packed. Fans will want to be entertained and to see their team winning.

It’s not an easy combination for coaches and players to deliver every week, but they must strive to do it – and they will.

Good luck to everyone involved.