Celtic instant analysis: Brendan Rodgers' slick side slay Killie

Despite what the scoreline suggests there was a gulf in class as goals by Japanese playmaker Reo Hatate and Honduran winger Luis Palma - his second league goal in consecutive matches -  and a late counter by Greg Taylor saw Brendan Rodgers men extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points over St Mirren.

The hosts were in the mood from early on and it was Hatate who produced a first-class finish midway through the first half when he skinned the Kilmarnock defence and embarked on a superb solo run that saw his low shot nestle in the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Celtic went 2-0 up on 33 minutes when Palma smashed a tremendous curled drive past William Dennis and the contest looked as good as dead and buried.

Matt O'Riley forced a fine diving save from Dennis after the break and Hatate somehow spurned a golden opportunity to claim his second and Celtic's third whilst Kyogo Furuhashi was denied by the post and a penalty award for the home side was overturned by VAR.

David Watson pulled one back on 72 minutes totally against the run of play and  Taylor looked to have been fouled in the build-up but the goal stood in a rare setback for Celtic.

Taylor made the game and points secure when he scored from close range on 82 minutes to restore the two goal cushion.

It was a professional performance from the Scottish champions who played some wonderfully creative and breathtaking football at times on the wet Celtic Park surface. They lived up to Rodgers' pre-match billing of being ruthless and relentless and were left scratching their heads as to how the manner of victory was not reflected more in the scoreline.

Cool, calm, collected Cameron Carter-Vickers

The American was trusted by Brendan Rodgers to go straight back into the side despite his culpability in the concession of the goal that cost his side dearly in the Champions League against Lazio. He slotted into the centre of defence alongside Liam Scales and he was was calm and reassuring presence for the hosts. He was up against the physical frame of Kyle Vassell and he totally relished the combat. He did not lose a single header against the Kilmarnock frontman which set a real tone for his teammates to follow as the visitors went direct. The 25-year-old also showed fantastic positional awareness in the first half as he managed to prevent a certain goal when he cut out a dangerous low cutback inside his own six-yard box with a piece of brilliant defending. He dropped off and read the situation so well as he anticipated what was happening before sliding in to stab the ball away from danger. In truth Carter-Vickers strolled his way through the whole game and if there were any effects of ring-rustiness from Wednesday night's European exertions he completely flushed them out of his system.

Tony Haggerty

Precision from Palma

Following impressive substitute appearances against both Motherwell and Lazio, The Honduran was handed his first domestic start this afternoon against Kilmarnock. Celtic’s summer signing from Aris has been competing with Yang Hyun-jun for the vacant spot in the team left by the injured Liel Abada, and did his chances no harm with another goal to his name. Palma has an aura about him when he is on the ball, as it always looks like something is going to happen when he has possession of it. Always looking to beat his marker when attacking the goal, Kilmarnock elected to double-team him very early on in proceedings, a show of respect to the danger that the winger was showing. After a couple of speculative strikes from distance, he would score his second goal in two Scottish Premiership games with a stunning long-range strike. After fortunately getting a second chance - following a misplaced pass to Hatate - Palma took one touch to get the ball out of his feet, then the other to curl it home from outside the box. His influence on the game waned in the second half, but Palma can be delighted with his contribution today. A star in the making.

Ryan McGinlay

READ MORE: Watch as Celtic's Hatate scores stunning solo goal against Kilmarnock

Taylor made display against his former club

It's fair to say that Greg Taylor has not enjoyed the best start to life under Rodgers. However the left back was totally in the mood against his former charges. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as he galloped forward at will and cracked in a couple of decent efforts that rose over the top. Taylor also linked the play very well with Palma all afternoon and he got a lot of joy when he inverted. He seemed to have a free rein when he drifted in-field and into the middle of the park. Both he and Palma created a neat balance down the left hand side and they continually dragged Kilmarnock players into areas they clearly did not want to go in. He blotted his copybook with a second half yellow card.  Vassell seemed to foul him in the lead-up to Kilmarnock's goal against the run of play through David Watson. He was in the right place at the right time to prod home the third as he popped up in the striker's role and restored the two goal advantage which he throughly deserved. Taylor has taken a lot of stick and criticism so far this season he found his range of passing again and he turned in an excellent display all round and earned credit where credit was due.

Tony Haggerty

Rampant Reo

Questions were being asked by some regarding Hatate’s inclusion, following his below-par performance in midweek against Lazio. Nonetheless, the Japan international retained his place in the starting line-up, and it is safe to say he justified his selection in the team. A return to the Hatate of old was evident in proceedings today, as he ran the show from the midfield. Opening the scoring with a brilliant individual goal, he nutmegged his marker before continuing his run, slotting past the goalkeeper with clinical precision. It wasn’t just his goal scoring that caught the eye, though, as Hatate’s passing and movement was on-point for the duration. Step-overs, long-range crosses and line-breaking movements were on show from the star man on the day, as he strutted his stuff on a wet afternoon at Celtic Park. Much more like it from Celtic’s number 41, it’s just a shame he has to wait a few weeks to replicate it because of the international break. Encouraging signs from a player signed up for the long-haul under Rodgers at Celtic, with plenty more to come from today's man of the match.

Ryan McGinlay

Slick, quick and hypnotic Celtic

Make that seven points ahead of St Mirren and 10 ahead of city rivals Rangers. Celtic produced a magical performance on the slick and sodden Celtic Park surface on a wet and miserable day in Glasgow's east end. Rodgers men looked in the mood right from kick-off and that was summed up by the two impressive first half goals via Hatate and Palma that put the game well beyond the Ayrshire sides reach. The Celtic manager had asked for his side to be ruthless and relentless in their approach and they most certainly were as some of the hosts build-up play was dazzling and very pleasing on the eye. It was a clinical display by the champions who put on a show for the Celtic supporters who braved the elements and turned up on a wet and miserable day. Celtic gained ample revenge on Derek McInnes' men for inflicting their only domestic defeat of the season in the League Cup second round at Rugby Park back in August and they did so in emphatic style.

Tony Haggerty