As Celtic celebrate a sixth successive Scottish title, we reflect on the six key games in this campaign that were key to Brendan Rodgers following the previous successes of Neil Lennon and Ronny Deila.

August 7: Hearts 1 Celtic 2

Following what could only be described as mixed performances against Lincoln Red Imps and FC Astana in the early qualifying rounds of the Champions League, Celtic’s first domestic test came in the capital against Hearts, seen as one of the possible challengers this term.

At Tynecastle, Celtic took just eight minutes to find the net, James Forrest opening the scoring, only for that goal to be cancelled out when Jamie Walker converted from the spot in the 36th minute, having conned referee John Beaton with what was a blatant dive.

The game looked to be heading for a draw, until Scott Sinclair, signed 24 hours earlier, was introduced off the bench. With nine minutes remaining, he turned home a Leigh Griffiths centre to make it a winning start.

August 27: Celtic 4 Aberdeen 1

The Dons, for the two previous seasons, had been Celtic’s nearest challengers in the league. This time around, Derek McInnes had augmented his player pool in key areas, but they had made a sluggish start to this assault.

Celtic meanwhile were flying. They’d hit five against Motherwell and Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and knocked four past St Johnstone by the time they met Aberdeen.

And again, Celtic’s firepower was evident as they recorded a resounding win in front of their home support. Leigh Griffiths and James Forrest netted either side of an Adam Rooney goal. Late on a Scott Sinclair penalty and a Tom Rogic finish rounded things off to make things look already ominous for Aberdeen.

September 10: Celtic 5 Rangers 1

While they were talking a good game within Ibrox, Rangers, under Mark Warburton, were already off the pace compared to their arch-rivals across the city.

Rangers defensively were at toiling. For the game at Celtic Park, Philippe Senderos made his debut. It would be one he’d rather forget.

Celtic were ruthless, in particular Moussa Dembele. Unmarked, he headed a first, then pounced on a Rob Kiernan blunder for a second. Having been outplayed, Rangers however were still in it thanks to a Joe Garner goal on the stroke of half-time.

The second-half however saw Celtic hit gears Rangers could only dream of. Scott Sinclair made it 3-1, and after Senderos walked for a second yellow, Dembele became the first player to net a league derby hat-trick in 50 years, with Stuart Armstrong completing a five-star rout.

December 3: Motherwell 3 Celtic 4

If 90 minutes encapsulated what this Brendan Rodgers Celtic team was all about, it came at Fir Park.

A week after collecting their first silverware of the season with the Betfred Cup, many were wondering if that game had taken something out of Celtic as they trailed 2-0 just after the half hour to a Louis Moult double.

Parity was restored in the second half by goals from Callum McGregor and Patrick Roberts, but almost immediately, Lionel Ainsworth volleyed the hosts back in front. Within a minute, Celtic were all-square again as Stuart Armstrong grabbing the equaliser.

But would a Celtic team, which hadn’t lost a goal in 10 hours of league football, but had suddenly conceded three in 70 minutes, settle for a point?

Not a bit of it, and in the final minute, Rogic drilled a shot past Craig Samson.

December 31: Rangers 1 Celtic 2

Rangers had won four on the spin during December, impressively against Aberdeen and Hearts at Ibrox, less convincingly so against Hamilton and Caley Thistle. But the brakes were applied to any momentum they had hoped to carry in to the Celtic game when held 1-1 by St Johnstone.

That result left Mark Warburton’s men 16 points adrift of the champions elect ahead of the derby.

With nothing to lose, Rangers began impressively, Kenny Miller scoring. However, with Dembele a constant threat, the Rangers defensive line could ill afford a slip. The inevitable lapse in concentration came in 33 minutes, when the young Frenchman was left free from a corner, and smashed the ball high in to the rigging.

Rangers were overrun and held out until the 70th minute when Sinclair clipped home Armstrong’s delivery.

February 1: Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0

Dedryck Boyata, who up until the turn of the year had made just one league start, against Kilmarnock in November, had gone from a bit-part squad player to become a key component in the heart of the Celtic backline.

After providing the only goal to beat St Johnstone, the Belgian stopper repeated the feat, this time against Aberdee, who for 45 minutes at least, had been a match for Celtic. That ended when Boyata rose to head home Scott Sinclair’s free-kick.

It proved a double whammy, for at Tynecastle that night, Hearts were crushing Rangers 4-1. It put Celtic 25 points ahead in the title race.