Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic captain Callum McGregor is on a "different level" after his performance during the victory over Rangers at Parkhead.

The Scottish champions ran out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Paulo Bernardo and Kyogo Furuhashi.

But it was the Scotland international that Rodgers had nothing but praise for at full time.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "Callum is a on a different level. I worked with him here the first time and we are very lucky to have someone like him on a different level.

"His view of the game and his composure... he has ended up having to play nearly enough two positions at times.

"He was in that controlling position as he can progress the game forward and then he is up there as an eight due to the runs he can make in that position.

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"He is an absolutely brilliant leader for this group and I am very lucky to have him here again as a manager."

Rodgers also talked up the importance of the victory which puts Celtic eight points clear at top of the Scottish Premiership, with the Ibrox side having two games in hand.

And the 50-year-old feels his side dealt with the occasion well for the majority of the game.

"It  is obviously a very important win for us," he continued. December is always a very tough month with so many games but I thought the atmosphere at the match was fantastic. 

"I thought the players played well on a difficult surface and scored two good goals. My only downside is how we lost some control when up against 10 men and we have to control the game much better than that."