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The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership to strengthen their early championship claims and worsen the malaise around the Celtic team.

A superb goal from Kyziridis and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave the Hearts team a two-goal advantage that the reigning champions could not recover from.

Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI - slashed into his own net early on to put the home side ahead at a bouncing their home ground, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the spot-kick.

A stylish finish from McGregor of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.

But the unstoppable Hearts side seized control again to hand the visitors to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since last year.

It also gives the Hearts a commanding advantage at the top of the table.

The previous occasion they were this far ahead was in the 2005-2006 season under their former manager, when they ended as runners-up - a rare instance that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.

McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on multiple times, has been working hard to play down championship discussions, as Hearts seek their maiden league title since the 1960s.

Rodgers has experienced this previously at Celtic - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's yet to finish second best.

But on Sunday's evidence, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.

Match Analysis: The hosts Take Advantage of Depleted Celtic

The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker poked a cross in for Shankland to stab wide.

Celtic didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they faltered under their initial test.

Claudio Braga's header was tipped onto the woodwork by Kasper Schmeichel and Shankland's return ball was diverted goalwards by the unfortunate Murray, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The away side found their rhythm and started stringing passes together. From one such move, the midfielder released Tierney to set up the captain, who slotted home.

Apart from the Nygren chance, the visitors struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the unavailability of injured forwards their key strikers.

The home team regained their intensity and versatility in attacking from across the final third. The Greek forward, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, fired a low shot past Schmeichel from the just outside the area.

Immediately after, Murray fouled Braga in the right side of the box and Shankland scored. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had replacement Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.

Celtic's second half was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving record signing Arne Engles.

The set-piece from Engles delivery was in sharp opposition to his midweek exploits in the continental victory over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.

Post-Match Comments

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

"What we have got, is good technical ability. You're seeing that from a lot of players who have been here before. Some of the new signings are eager to show that.

"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's just one win. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, loads to do. Following the initial fixtures is normally an indication of your standing."

The Celtic boss: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We failed to push up when the ball went back as a line so when they play it, they should have players offside but weren't. We have got to do better with the attempt.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's only nine games in. Obviously, being eight adrift is not ideal. The comfort is there's so many games to play.

"We now have to focus on the present and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?

Celtic are back at home on Wednesday against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the identical hour in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.

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