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Rampant Hearts powered eight ahead of Celtic at the summit of the Scottish top flight to strengthen their early-season championship claims and worsen the malaise around the Celtic team.

Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave Derek McInnes' side a 3-1 lead that the title holders could not overcome.

The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - slashed into his own net in the early stages to put Hearts ahead at a bouncing their home ground, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the penalty.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had quickly cancelled out the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.

But the unstoppable Hearts side regained dominance to hand Celtic to back-to-back losses for the initial occasion since 2023.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a significant lead at the summit.

The previous occasion they were so far clear was in the 2005-2006 season under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second - a rare instance that a team has not secured the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years.

McInnes, whose former team were runners-up to the champions on four occasions, has been working hard to play down championship discussions, as the club seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.

Rodgers has experienced this previously at Celtic - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's never ended as runner-up.

But on the weekend's performance, this Hearts team showed they deserve serious consideration.

Analysis: The hosts Take Advantage of Weakened The Visitors

Hearts started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for Shankland to stab wide.

Celtic didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they faltered under their first real examination.

A headed effort from Braga was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and the follow-up from Shankland was turned into the net by the hapless defender, in for the absent center-back.

The away side grew into the contest and started building moves. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to set up the captain, who rolled in.

Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors found it hard to generate chances for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.

The home team regained their intensity and adaptability in creating chances in the opposition half. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, fired a low shot past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.

Immediately after, Murray tripped the midfielder in the right side of the box and Shankland scored. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had substitute Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.

Celtic's second half was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving big-money recruit Engles.

The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his European display in the Europa League win over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then booked for a professional foul.

What They Said

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "You see how hard the players work, the team spirit. That's not always enough to win games consistently.

"What we have got, is good technical ability. You're witnessing it from multiple individuals who have been here previously. Some of the new signings are eager to show that.

"We've got a good thing going at the minute, but it's just one win. It's crucial for us to maintain this form. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of where you are."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We failed to push up when the play was recycled as a line so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but didn't. We have got to improve with the attempt.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's still so early. It's just nine matches. Obviously, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The comfort is there's so many games to play.

"Our attention must turn on the present and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."

What's Next for Both Sides?

Celtic are back at home on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the same time in the top division, Hearts are at their opponents' ground.

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