The key talking points ahead of Celtic’s Europa League clash with RB Leipzig

The Hoops sit third in Group B.

Celtic face RB Leipzig in the Europa League at Parkhead on Thursday night.

The Hoops sit third in Group B with three points and on the back of a 2-0 defeat in the Red Bull Arena last month.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at the talking points ahead of the match.

Must-win game for Celtic

After the first three Group B fixtures Celtic sit six points behind leaders Salzburg and three behind RB Leipzig and are feeling the heat. The Scottish champions have still to play those two teams at home, with a trip to Trondheim to take on struggling bottom side Rosenborg also on the horizon, so mathematically qualification into the knockout stages is still possible. However, Rodgers admitted Thursday’s clash is a must-win game for the Hoops if they are to have any chance of progressing and he wants his side to relish the pressure.

Goals galore

Celtic have scored 23 goals in their last five domestic games while conceding only two so confidence in the Parkhead camp is high. Of course, in the midst of that was their 2-0 defeat by RB Leipzig in Germany. However, there is a sense that the Hoops are building up a head of steam after a sticky start to the season and will surely pose a goal threat against the German side.

Cutting out mistakes

Rodgers wants Kieran Tierney (right) and the rest of his defence to tighten up (Jane Barlow/PA)

The Parkhead factor

Parkhead can be raucous on a European night (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Centre-back pairing

Filip Benkovic scored his first Celtic goal against Hearts (Jane Barlow/PA)