Calf injury or not, Brendan Rodgers heads into a three-week winter break with a significant spring in his step.

Under Rodgers, Celtic have yet to experience defeat in the 24 domestic encounters they have played this term– 23 of these victories, with Celtic now boasting 15 Premiership wins on the bounce. Along the way they have amassed 54 goals, the last two of which had the Hoops boss in an uncharacteristic lather.

Amidst the glamour and plush luxury of the Etihad, Rodgers was a relatively impassive spectator. Amidst the heat of the conclusive Champions League qualifier against Hapoel Be’er Sheva, the Northern Irishman sweated and tensed but remained pretty passive. As he won the first trophy of his managerial career at Hampden he was happy to melt into a background figure.

As Celtic came from behind to win 2-1 at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon, Rodgers celebrated his side’s second goal with such gusto that he tore a muscle. “It was daft,” he smiled, sheepishly as he limped into the media room.

Truth is, it was the most damage that Rangers could inflict.

Yet, for a game that ultimately meant nothing, could change nothing, given the commanding lead that Celtic started off with – a lead that has now stretched to a whopping 19 points with a game still in hand to be played – the manner in which the result was celebrated told its own story of what this fixture still means.

It is not any other game and nor is it any other three points. Mikael Lustig – given a testing time by the impudent feet of the effervescent Barrie McKay – was dancing a jig of delight seconds before the full-time whistle blew, so unable was he to contain his exuberance at the victory.

Leigh Griffiths, who remained unstripped for the duration of the 90 minutes, tied a Hoops scarf to an Ibrox goalpost much to the delight of a gleeful visiting support.

Celtic had left their calling card long before then.

There was a period in the second half on Saturday afternoon when Rodgers’ men cut Rangers open at will. Scott Sinclair’s pace and trickery on the flank had the Ibrox side chasing shadows while Moussa Dembele, relatively quiet until he lashed a thumping half volley high into the net to cancel out Kenny Miller’s opener, seemed to grow more menacing with every passing minute.

The 20-year-old Frenchman battered the crossbar, Sinclair hit the sidenetting and Stuart Armstrong had three cracking chances. The Scotland midfielder’s performance was such that he deserved a goal for his incessant endeavour in the middle of the park.

What, though, was interesting from Celtic’s perspective was the manner in which they reacted to not just going behind in the game but to being harried entirely off their rhythm. For the opening 20 minutes Rangers were out of the traps and in their faces, with McKay central to the damage that the Ibrox side looked intent on inflicting.

When Miller scored, they could have followed it up with another pretty quickly as Celtic’s unease threatened to grow.

“Probably the most pleasing thing of all was something we talked about before the game, and that was how we’d react if we went behind in the game,” said Rodgers. “We spoke about dealing with pressure and finding solutions for that. But we stayed very calm and once we got our first goal we played our way back into the game.

“So it was an outstanding performance second half and a really good result for us.”

Erik Sviatchenko has been outstanding for Celtic this season but his part in Miller’s opener when he was unnecessarily careless with a loose ball along the edge of his own 18-yard box is not one that he will relish viewing again.

Scott Brown was the first name into the book after a robust challenge on James Tavernier. Minutes later, a rushed kick-out from Craig Gordon was met by the Hoops skipper who misplaced his pass and sent the ball out for a Rangers thrown-in deep inside Celtic’s half, a clear indication of just how rattled Celtic were.

It was Sinclair’s composure and threat that restored a sense of calm to the Parkhead side. It was the 27-year-old Englishman who hit a post, a move that led to the corner and Celtic’s leveller.

All the early confidence of Rangers was punctured immediately as the wind went out their sails.

Celtic came at them in the second period with wave after wave of attack. Each incursion threatened to draw more blood but in fairness to the Ibrox side they refused to be counted out.

Miller hit a post in the latter stages, a move that would have had a few hearts beating a little faster in the Celtic end.

In fairness though, Rodgers side were well worth the win and the points in a game that entertained throughout.

The next chapter will be waited for with some interest. This is a Celtic team who privately feel that they can get through the season unbeaten, who can go all the way to a domestic Treble. On this evidence, there seems to be few who will stop them.