Rodgers: Grab it from start for eight in row

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has urged his players to go out and seize control of the Ladbrokes Premiership title race as they seek an eighth consecutive triumph.

The Hoops open their third league season under Rodgers when they host promoted Livingston tomorrow.

After dropping only eight points in his first campaign, Celtic drew 10 matches and lost four last season but still won the league by nine points from Aberdeen and completed an unprecedented second treble in succession.

A different challenge awaits them in the form of Steven Gerrard’s newlook Rangers but Rodgers is keen for his players to assert themselves in the division.

“It’s obviously very early but we are clearly focused on winning as many games as we can,” he said.

“It’s clear now, since we have been here, we enter every tournament to win and, as the champions, it’s our job to go and win it again.

“It’s the same ideas, we want to develop the squad. That’s more of our goals for this year, we want to develop the work we have put in over the last couple of years, the development of players.

“And I always think that when you work with individuals and teams, there is always room for improvement. We aim to improve in every facet of our game this season.”

Rodgers added: “It’s a wonderful league. I have thoroughly enjoyed being up here for the couple of seasons.

“There’s not the money there is elsewhere in Europe but that doesn’t take away from the outstanding managers, and there’s some wonderful players here.

“It’s great with the likes of Stevie coming up, the managers that were here, and Alan Stubbs coming in who has experience of Scottish football. It will be a very competitive league again, like it has been for the two years I’ve been here.”

Rodgers faces another new managerial adversary tomorrow when former Celtic and Rangers striker Kenny Miller takes charge of his first league game for Livi.