Scorching summer and a festive feast were key times for Rodgers

WIN at Tynecastle today and Celtic will clinch a sixth title in a row, but the destination of the SPFL Premiership trophy has been settled for months.

Asked to pinpoint where he felt the championship was won, manager Brendan Rodgers alights not one match, but on two blocks of fixtures.

‘The opening games are important,’ said Rodgers. ‘You can’t win the title in the first eight games, but you can lose it and we put down a marker then.

‘We were not at our best but we showed signs mentally. We then gained confidence from the Champions League.

‘Winning at Hearts on the first day was important, as was beating Aberdeen at home. Then the Rangers game was a good moment for us.

‘But, even then I did not think we were set. There was still lots of improvement to come.’

The next run of key results came in an abnormally-congested December when Rodgers’ side kicked off with a thrilling match at Motherwell in which Celtic trailed 2-0 at half-time before staging a dramatic fightback to win 4-3.

That month also saw the team turn in its most accomplished Champions League performance to draw 1-1 at Manchester City.

It ended with the Hogmanay joy of a derby victory over Rangers at Ibrox.

The significance of that period can be measured thus — Celtic banked 24 points from a perfect domestic month while nearest challengers Aberdeen gathered just 13.

‘We showed a great determination,’ added Rodgers. ‘There were nine tough games and we had to show a different side. Some games were very good, some a bit of a grind for the fans.

‘That’s what was thrust upon the players but they dealt with it brilliantly.’

With the Scottish Cup and the preservation of the team’s unbeaten domestic record still on the agenda, there remains plenty to occupy Celtic beyond the point at which champions status is confirmed.

If points are dropped in Edinburgh today, then Wednesday’s home game with Partick Thistle might yet provide the stage to clinch the title.

‘It will be a brilliant achievement when we do it, so I’ll be happy — but not totally satisfied,’ says Rodgers.

‘We must look ahead to the next one. We have goals to achieve.’