Celtic capped what Brendan Rodgers hailed as one of the club’s most “exceptional years” with a dazzling 4-0 demolition of St Johnstone at Parkhead. The reigning champions showcased their relentless dominance, extending their unbeaten domestic run this season and widening the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 14 points ahead of Thursday’s pivotal trip to Ibrox.

Rodgers Reflects on a Year to Remember

Speaking after the match, Rodgers was full of praise for his side’s performance and achievements:
“When you look at all the numbers and stats, this will be one of the exceptional years in the history of Celtic. It’s great for the supporters—they can see how hard the team is working.”

Despite approaching the halfway stage of the campaign, Rodgers emphasised the team’s hunger to improve:
“The players deserve huge credit for their mindset and work ethic. They know they’re in a safe place because we encourage them to take risks. That’s what allows us to keep playing the way we do.”

A Ruthless Celtic in Full Flow

From the outset, it was clear Celtic meant business. St Johnstone initially stood firm, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo, and Arne Engels testing goalkeeper Josh Rae. But the breakthrough came through the ever-reliable Nicolas Kühn, who latched onto Reo Hatate’s pass, cut inside, and calmly finished to notch his 12th league goal of the season.

Kühn nearly added another with a curling effort that drew a stunning save from Rae, but the floodgates opened in the second half. Kyogo pounced from close range after Paulo Bernardo’s clever flick was parried, marking Celtic’s 50th league goal in just 18 games—a stunning milestone.

The Japanese talisman struck again moments later, expertly finishing from Engels’ whipped cross, before substitute Daizen Maeda rounded off the rout with a composed strike following Bernardo’s defence-splitting pass.

Rodgers’ Arsenal of Talent

Even with key players like captain Callum McGregor and Maeda starting on the bench, Celtic’s depth and quality shone through. Rodgers’ squad boasts an attacking arsenal that seems unstoppable, with Kühn and Kyogo in scintillating form and Engels providing another dimension in creativity.

“From minute one to the final whistle, we were outstanding,” Rodgers said. “The mentality of this group is incredible—they never stop. It’s a joy to watch.”

St Johnstone: A Mountain to Climb

For Simo Valakari’s side, it was another grim afternoon as they succumbed to a fifth consecutive league match without victory. Despite a disciplined first-half display, fatigue set in, and Celtic ruthlessly exploited the cracks.

Valakari acknowledged the gulf in class:
“Celtic were very, very good. From the first to the last minute, they pushed us. The biggest lesson for us is their attitude—they keep going no matter the situation. If we can learn that, it will help us.”

With Hibernian next on the schedule, St Johnstone will need to regroup quickly to avoid becoming further detached at the bottom of the table.

Eyes on Ibrox

As the year ends, all eyes now turn to the Old Firm clash on 2 January. On this form, Celtic look unstoppable, and a victory over Rangers would further solidify their dominance in what Rodgers described as a “special, special season.”

For the champions, the momentum shows no signs of slowing, while for the chasing pack, the task of catching them grows ever more daunting.