Brendan Rodgers' men clinched their 12th title in 13 years in emphatic style with a 5-0 rout of Derek McInnes' Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. 

The Northern Irishman secured the coveted league flag with one game to spare as Celtic reeled off their third successive championship win, as they lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy last Saturday after the game against St Mirren.

TCW's Tony Haggerty looks back on eight monumental games that won the league for Rodgers and his side, as 'Three-In-A-Row' was delivered.


Game 1

Scottish Premiership

03/09/2023

Rangers 0-1 Celtic (Furuhashi 45+2)

Rodgers starts to answer early questions surrounding the controversy of his second tenure in Glasgow's east end. An injury-ravaged Celtic travel to Ibrox with a central defence consisting of Liam Scales - who started the season as sixth choice centre-back and untried Swedish quantity Gustaf Lagerbielke. Somehow they muddle through and Kyogo Furuhashi silences the Govan crowd with an excellent opportunist strike from 20 yards for the only goal of the game. Rodgers' wonderful record in the Glasgow derby fixture continues. Michael Beale's team blinked first in the title race as Celtic eked out a two-point lead at the top over fourth-placed Rangers.

Scottish Premiership table as it stood

1) Celtic P4 GD 5 Pts 10

4) Rangers P 4 GD 4 Pts 8


Game 2

Scottish Premiership

30/09/2023

Motherwell 1-2 Celtic (Spittal 90+5) (Palma 87, O'Riley 90+7)

Matt O'Riley serves up a reminder of what is to come as the Danish international scores a 97th-minute winner in the most dramatic of finishes at Fir Park to give Celtic a last-gasp victory over Motherwell Celtic substitute Luis Palma opens the scoring with a cross-cum-shot after 87 minutes but the Steelmen equalised after 95 minutes when Blair Spittal drills a shot right into the corner to send the home crowd wild. The home celebrations are cut short as O'Riley arrives at the back post to volley high into the net for an incredible winner and spark chaotic scenes of bedlam for the visiting fans. On the same day, Rangers crash 3-1 to Aberdeen at Ibrox which is the beginning of the end for Beale as Celtic carve out an early seven-point lead in the title race.

Scottish Premiership table as it stood

1) Celtic P 7 GD 12 Pts 19

3) Rangers P 7 GD 5 Pts 12


Game 3

Scottish Premiership

30/11/2023

Celtic 2-1 Rangers (Bernardo 25, Furuhashi 47) (Tavernier 88)

The champions reassert their dominance and stranglehold in the Glasgow derby after suffering successive losses to Kilmarnock and Hearts earlier in the month. A resurgent Rangers were credible title challengers and Philippe Clement had guided them to the League Cup and a 16-game unbeaten run. However, goals from Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo and a stunning 20-yard counter from Japanese talisman Kyogo saw Celtic waltz off with all three points despite a late James Tavernier strike for Rangers. Celtic move eight points clear of their rivals but the Light Blues still have two games in hand.

Scottish Premiership table as it stood

1) Celtic P 21 GD 35 Pts 51

2) Rangers P 21 GD 28 Pts 43


Game 4

Scottish Premiership

08/02/2024

Hibs 1-2 Celtic (Levitt 60) (Idah 10 pen, 90+2 pen)

Celtic display "the mentality of champions", according to Rodgers as his side grab a dramatic late victory over Hibernian at Easter Road to restore their three-point lead at the Scottish Premiership summit. On-loan Norwich striker Adam Idah keeps his cool to tuck away two spot-kicks as the Republic of Ireland international announces himself in fine style. Idah opened the scoring inside 10 minutes on his first start after Nectarios Triantis clashed heads with Alistair Johnston to concede his second spot-kick in as many games. Dylan Levitt spectacularly hauls the home side level with a sensational strike from the edge of the box on the hour mark Celtic's new hero is given the opportunity from the penalty spot when Kyogo Furuhashi was adjudged to have been fouled by Joe Newell inside the box in injury-time and the award is confirmed after a lengthy VAR intervention.

Scottish Premiership table as it stood

1) Celtic P 25 GD 40 Pts 61

2) Rangers P 25 GD 38 Pts 58


Game 5

Scottish Premiership

25/02/2024

Motherwell 1-3 Celtic (Spittal 43) (Idah 51, 90+4, Palma 90+6)

Celtic striker Idah is the hero of the hour for the champions as Rodgers' men run the risk of falling five points behind Rangers as they trail 1-0 at the interval in Lanarkshire. Cue Idah. The on-loan Norwich City forward bags a brace to reignite Celtic's title charge. A further Palma strike makes sure of victory. The second-half performance rejuvenates a Celtic side who had dropped points against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen in previous weeks. It's another vital contribution from the 23-year-old attacker.

Scottish Premiership as it stood

1) Rangers P 27 GD 48 Pts 67

2) Celtic P 27 GD 42 Pts 65


Game 6

Scottish Premiership

07/04/2024

Rangers 3-3 Celtic (Tavernier 55 pen, Sima 86, Matondo 90+3) (Maeda 1, O'Riley 34 pen, Idah 87)

Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo's stunning stoppage-time equaliser prevents Celtic from extending their Scottish Premiership lead as the hosts come from behind twice late on to draw a six-goal Old Firm classic. Idah's clinical finish six minutes earlier was going to put Celtic four points clear but Matondo curls home a beauty to earn Rangers a share of the spoils. Celtic had cruised into a commanding lead after a sensational first-half display, during which Daizen Maeda scored after 21 seconds when James Tavernier's clearance crashed off him and fizzed past Jack Butland. In a VAR-affected contest, Matt O'Riley dinked in a composed penalty - awarded by referee John Beaton after an on-field review showed Connor Goldson had handled - to send the away side into the break two goals ahead. James Tavernier reduced the arrears with a penalty on 55 minutes before Abdullah Sima crashed a deflected drive into the net to make it 2-2 with four minutes left on the clock. Rangers bizarrely indulge themselves in a lap of honour as Clement claims a 'moral victory'. A solitary point separates the sides at the top with Rangers having played one game fewer.

Scottish Premiership table as it stood

1) Celtic P 32 GD 51 Pts 75 2)

Rangers P 31 GD 50 Pts 74


Game 7

Scottish Premiership

11/05/2024

Celtic 2-1 Rangers (O'Riley 35, Lundstram 38 o.g.) (Dessers 40)

Celtic put themselves on the brink of securing another Scottish Premiership title as they move six points clear of 10-man Rangers with a vital 2-1 victory. O'Riley slams home the opener with a low strike on 35 minutes and an own goal from John Lundstram three minutes later proves to be decisive enough for Rodgers' side despite Cyriel Dessers pulling one back. Lundstram sees red for a shocker of a challenge on Alistair Johnston five minutes before the interval. O'Riley contrives to miss a second-half penalty as Celtic squanders a whole host of chances but the home side prevails as Rodgers' men place one hand on the Premiership trophy.

Scottish Premiership table as it stood

1) Celtic P 36 GD 59 Pts 87 2)

Rangers P 36 GD 52 Pts 81


Game 8

Scottish Premiership

15/05/2024

Celtic 5-0 Kilmarnock (Idah 5, Maeda 12, Forrest 35, O'Riley 51, 71)

Celtic thrash Kilmarnock to win the Scottish Premiership title in swashbuckling style. The champions pile on the agony and turn on the style in Ayrshire as Rodgers' men claim their 12th title in 13 seasons and three in a row. The 51-year-old's side go nap and blitz Kilmarnock as goals from Idah, Maeda and James Forrest have Celtic 3-0 up and cruising by the interval. An O'Riley brace after the restart makes the scoreline emphatic as the Celtic fans chant Rodgers' name in unison. Rodgers' redemption story is finally complete.

Scottish Premiership table as it stood

1) Celtic P 37 GD 64 Pts 90

2) Rangers P 37 GD 55 Pts 84