Celtic 3-0 Rangers: Analysis

Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

So much of this Celtic performance was a carbon copy of their derby dominance in recent seasons. The superiority in midfield, blitzing the Rangers full-backs, and another goal from a cut back in a furious first half.

Callum McGregor, usually the orchestrator in chief, was more lowkey before smashing in the third goal but next to him Paulo Bernardo was everywhere as the Kyogo disallowed goal roused Celtic from an unusual early slumber in the first five minutes.

Brendan Rodgers has talked about the quality of their pre-season work to allow them to be better without the ball this season, and that was in evidence yet again here. They dominated the duels and hounded Rangers, living off their mistakes.

One such incident lead to the second goal as left-back Greg Taylor picked off an under hit ball into midfield before finding Kyogo, who calmly passed the ball beyond the despairing dive of Jack Butland.

All the signs are there that they will be better than last season both in terms of their evolution under Rodgers, and squad depth given the business done at the end of the window.

That is a terrifying prospect for Rangers and the rest of Scottish football.