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Sportsound: Celtic v Kilmarnock & reaction BBC Radio Scotland This video can not be played Listen to Sportsound Celtic now two points from title – and can be crowned champions on Sunday if Rangers lose to Aberdeen Hatate (2), Maeda & Carter-Vickers put rampant Celtic four up in opening 25 minutes Armstrong pulls one back with looping effort & Maeda has first-half strike disallowed for offside Substitute Ralston nets injury-time fifth for hosts Nick Mc Pheat FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Brendan Rodgers was also asked about Greg Taylor, who impressed again at left-back. The defender is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to sign a new deal at Celtic. "I'll always fight to the very end for a player, " Rodgers told Sky Sports. "Greg's earned the right to make the decision he wants. "You see in the performance today how important someone in that role is, he plays like a midfield player for us. "We'll see what happens at the end of the season. " FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells Sky Sports: "It's what this group is, a really honest group. The goals were brilliant. Some individual quality and strikes. Overall it was the perfect performance. On tomorrow's match between Aberdeen and Rangers, he adds: "Whatever happens happens. It's about ourselves. We wanted today to be the coronation, but we've given ourselves a brilliant opportunity now. "We'll see what the split brings and we'll look to win our next game. " FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Brendan Rodgers has given his post-match views. Quotes incoming from the Celtic boss. .. FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers has also been giving his post-match reaction. On his first-half wonder goal, he tells Sky Sports: "To be fair, I hit them now and again in training. Today I curly-toed it a wee bit and it beat the keeper. " FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Captain Callum Mc Gregor adds that Celtic "won't be actively sitting down" to watch tomorrow's match between Aberdeen and Rangers. Hmm, dunno about that. FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Celtic captain Callum Mc Gregor tells Sky Sports: "We were first class first 30 minutes, that's probably as good as we've been all season. "When you slip below [your standards], the manager has every right to go for the players and get a response. " FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Meanwhile, Kilmarnock have conceded nine goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season. Only Dundee (14) and St Johnstone (11) have conceded more. FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Celtic have scored 20 goals via substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team. FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock That heavy defeat means Kilmarnock remain just a point away from the relegation play-off spot and six above St Johnstone. Still five Premiership games to be played this weekend, so that could all change. FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Celtic attempted 1, 020 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season. That's what 88% possession gets you. FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock No title party today for Celtic, but they could still win a 13th Scottish top-flight title in 14 seasons this weekend. The 5-1 victory at home against Kilmarnock today will be sufficient to confirm the arithmetic should Rangers lose at Aberdeen tomorrow. Given the Ibrox side's domestic inconsistency, that certainly doesn't feel impossible. FT: Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Pat Bonner Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound All the composure of a striker from Ralston. He gets himself into a great position, he controls, leaves the defender for dead and strikes across the goalkeeper. A really good finish from him. Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock And it is. A five-goal show for Celtic, four of which came in a rampant first half. Anthony Ralston Time for one more for Celtic as Anthony Ralston drills in an excellent finish with what could be the last kick. Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock Two of the added three played as Celtic just pass the ball about. Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock A lot of empty seats starting to appear at Celtic Park as the clock ticks towards the 90. Three minutes added. Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock Liverpool's Calvin Ramsay is on loan at Kilmarnock. I completely forgot that. Anyway, on he comes for David Watson. Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock Reo Hatate, hunting for a hat-trick, drags one right across goal. But it's off target and nobody can turn it in. Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock Nicolas Kuhn has a pop from distance. It takes a nick off Joe Wright and Celtic keep the ball moving from a short corner. Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock Pat Bonner Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound Maeda's had a superb season, been so consistent. The goals are the icing on the cake for him. For a period he was probably the main player for Celtic and without him they would've struggled a wee bit more than they did. Reo Hatate scored a double in Celtic's dominant win over Kilmarnock Celtic moved to within touching distance of another Scottish Premiership title after a barnstorming first-half display ripped Kilmarnock apart. Within 24 minutes the hosts were 4-0 ahead thanks to a stunning array of goals, with Daizen Maeda, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate, twice, on target. Danny Armstrong's crossed sailed home for some brief respite for Derek Mc Innes' side but the champions-elect utterly dominated. The icing on the cake arrived in injury time as substitute Anthony Ralston danced into the box and found the far corner. Celtic's title win will be confirmed if Aberdeen defeat Rangers on Sunday, while well-beaten Kilmarnock now head into a crucial bottom-six run of fixtures that will determine their fate. All the Celtic latest in one place Everything you need to know about Kilmarnock Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers had questioned the mindset of his squad after defeat to St Johnstone last Sunday meant there was no home title party this weekend. With four changes for the home side, two up top and two at the back, the intent and desire was there instantly. Celtic were magnificent and swatted Kilmarnock away with some excellent goals. The first was an individual moment of brilliance as Hatate gathered off a one-two and, without hesitation, fired straight into the top corner with Kieran O'Hara given no hope in goal. Things quickly imploded for the visitors. Arne Engels waited and waited before playing a delightful ball in behind for Alistair Johnston, who squared for Maeda to tap in the easiest of his now 31 goals this season. Celtic's attacking was relentless and Carter-Vickers got in on the act as he strode freely towards the box and smashed a perfect long-range strike into the top corner. The fourth was wonderfully worked with James Forrest again releasing Johnston, who found Hatate with space and time to net his second of the game and 10th of the season. At that stage, Kilmarnock looked in freefall. From nowhere, Armstrong crossed with pace and it soared to the far post and over Viljami Sinisalo into the top corner. Fortunate but gratefully received. Celtic kept at it. Kilmarnock avoided further damage just before half-time when Maeda slammed home but Adam Idah was adjudged just offside. The only solace for the visitors was it didn't get much worse as they changed approach at the break to some effect. The damage was done. Engels was closest to a fifth with a curling effort that clipped the bar before Ralston's late strike as Celtic inflicted a painful, chastening afternoon on their opponents. No title party, just yet, and that clearly irked Rodgers given his comments in the past week. Clearly, his anger had the desired impact on his squad. Jota, Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty and Jeffrey Schlupp all made way and Celtic were on it from minute one. It was a brilliant response as Kilmarnock were battered into submission within the opening quarter of the match. At half-time this really could have been a cricket score. Celtic eased off and a change in approach from Kilmarnock stemmed the flow but this was a convincing and deserved victory. Another Premiership title will arrive, whether on Sunday or later. However, clearly Celtic's manager is already thinking beyond the remainder of this season. He told BBC Scotland pre-match he will "150%" remain Celtic manager next season and his position on the next steps seems crystal clear. This squad needs improved despite yet more success being within their grasp. The fight really begins for Kilmarnock and every side in the bottom six now in the five post-split fixtures. The Rugby Park side have not won away to Celtic since 2012 and ending that run was always unlikely. Within 10 minutes it was a crisis management exercise in damage limitation. Kilmarnock barely had the ball, couldn't get away from their box and very rarely got over halfway. It was the sort of afternoon no footballer wants to experience, never mind fans. Goal difference may prove crucial - second-bottom Dundee are just a point behind before facing Hibernian on Sunday - and the second half game-management may prove helpful. You look at this Kilmarnock squad and think they should have enough to avoid trouble, but they are right in it as things stand. This was an afternoon they'll want to forget, regroup and get on with the job in hand. Last Updated 12th April 2025 at 14: 23 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Brendan Rodgers Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Derek Mc Innes Formation: 4 - 5 - 1 Manager: Brendan Rodgers Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Derek Mc Innes Formation: 4 - 5 - 1 We're still improving Match stats. Let us know what you think. Scottish Premiership All competitions All competitions All competitions Celtic have only lost one of their last 18 league games against Kilmarnock (W15 D2), a 1-2 defeat away from home in December 2023. In all competitions, Kilmarnock have only won one of their last 85 away games against Celtic (D18 L66), winning 2-0 in October 2012 under Kenny Shiels. Celtic have lost three of their last six league games (W3), more than their previous 46 beforehand (W38 D6 L2). The Hoops could lose successive league fixtures for the first time since December 2023 – one of which was against Kilmarnock (1-2). Kilmarnock have picked up just nine points in their 16 away league games this season (W2 D3 L11), the fewest of any Scottish Premiership side. Killie are winless in their last 10 on the road in the competition (D2 L8), losing their last five. Kilmarnock’s Fraser Murray has scored two goals in his last three Scottish Premiership appearances, as many as his previous 73 beforehand. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.