Celtic were back in the groove as the Scottish Premiership champions eased to a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock on Flag Day.

Lisbon Lion Jim Craig - who unfurled the league flag before kick-off - must have been well impressed with Brendan Rodgers's side's scintillating display as goals from Reo Hatate, Liam Scales, a deflected strike from Nicolas Kuhn and a Tony Ralston effort saw Celtic blow Kilmarnock away on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season.

It was a dominant display by the defending champions who got the ball rolling on minutes when Hatate cracked home a superb low finish from just inside the penalty area after some decent spade work involving both Matt O'Riley and Greg Taylor. 

Celtic were two to the good on minutes when Scales superbly latched onto O'Riley's out-swinging corner and the Irishman craned his neck muscles to corkscrew a terrific header into the net.

It was three and easy for Celtic just before the hour mark as Kuhn who had earlier hit the crossbar saw his effort deflected into the net and it was game over.

Tony Ralston slammed through McCrorie's legs in injury time to make the final scoreline emphatic at 4-0 for the perfect start.

It's already looking ominous as Rodgers's team served up a statement of intent.

The Great Dane Kasper Schmeichel takes his Celtic home bow

The great shot-stopper that was Peter Schmeichel was in attendance to watch his son Kasper finally take his Celtic Park bow. The father didn't have a lot to go on after this encounter but whatever his son had to do he did with confidence and aplomb. He looks comfortable in everything that he does and the transition from Joe Hart to Schmeichel does feel as if it will be a seamless one. The 37-year-old showed that he is still adept with a ball at his feet and his distribution was on point all afternoon. You would be forgiven for thinking that Schmeichel had been playing in the Celtic goal for years already. He will have busier days in a Celtic jersey but he has finally taken his Parkhead bow and sampled the real Celtic experience. It doesn't matter how you do it but goalkeepers pride themselves on clean sheets and Schmeichel will be delighted that he has chalked up his first. No doubt he will be hungry for more. As for Peter, he will become a regular visitor to G40.

Reo Hatate is back with a bang and then some

Remarkably the Japanese midfielder is eyeing up his sixth title in a row this season. It was the 26-year-old who opened the scoring and got Celtic's season up and running with the sweetest of daisy cutters past Robby McCrorie in the Kilmarnock goal from just inside the box after minutes. There was an air of inevitability when Hatate picked up the ball and created a yard of space before cracking a superb effort home. Hatate endured a miserable season blighted by injury last year and he of all players is determined to make up for lost time. The playmaker has been the subject of interest from English Premier League new boys Leicester City of late but Rodgers would be reluctant to sell him in this window. An injury-free Hatate is a prize asset in the making and he has the potential to be a top talent for Celtic. His movement and drive at times are excellent. It was all pretty fluid stuff from Hatate, McGregor,  the imperious O'Riley and Taylor as Celtic manipulated the Killie press as they progressed the ball in the central areas and dragged opposition players all over the place. It is a huge season for Hatate and he looks bang at it and in the mood.

Liam Scales scoring from a corner might just be the eighth wonder of the world

Celtic scoring from a set-piece? There must be some mistake. Celtic never score from corners, right? Nope. Scales buried a beautiful header from a corner kick on minute and you knew then it was going to be a good day for Rodgers's men. Some still see the Irishman as a weak link in the Celtic defence and a squad player at best. There's much merit in that sentiment and statement and his critics have been accused of having an agenda against him. The thrust of the argument is that Scales is adequate domestically but will be found wanting when Celtic steps into the cauldron of the Champions League. The Celtic supporters crave an upgrade on Scales at left centre-back to play alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers. Whilst Scales enjoyed a decent outing against Kilmarnock and you have to give him credit where it is due for that. However, he still allowed himself at times to be outmuscled and buffeted about by Darius Vassell who is an agricultural centre-forward, to say the least. The fact of the matter remains that Scales for all of his faults can be underappreciated at times.

Razor-sharp Kyogo draws a blank but the No.9 could easily have had a treble

The Japanese goalscoring talisman was back to something approaching his brilliant best. The 29-year-old's movement was electric all afternoon and he was unlucky not to help himself to a first-hat trick. He was denied a goal by some sterling work by McCrorie in the Kilmarnock goal. Celtic's biggest worry is that the only recognised No.9 at the club gets injured. Rodgers desperately needs another striker for competition for Kyogo. This was a lively performance from Kyogo as he was on it from the off. At this rate, he will easily surpass his 19-goal tally from last season.  Kyogo looked sharp, his touch was sublime and his link-up play was superb as he even set up Kuhn for his deflected strike that made it 3-0. All that was missing was a goal although he was denied a counter by the assistant's flag which was a tight call. However, Kyogo was the consummate professional and he was a team player and that aspect of his game will please his manager greatly. Supporters can read what they want into Kyogo changing agency to CAA Base but on this kind of form, Rodgers would be loathe to see him changing club any time soon. Kyogo remains a fan favourite down Glasgow's east end. 

Brendanball is in full effect

Celtic made light work of a team that was a thorn in the flesh to the double winners last season in more ways than one. This was a Brendanball performance on Flag Day that will have excited the supporters for what is to come next. It had all the p's - pace, power and penetration - which are the hallmarks of Rodgers's teams. The passing was slick, the press was intense and the movement was done with purpose. The champions were in cruise control from the moment that Hatate opened the scoring. When Scales doubled their advantage they were in cruise control. It was total domination from the hosts who manoeuvred the ball at will and excellently for long periods of this contest. This was by all accounts an opening day statement of intent by the Scottish champions. Rodgers's men will get better and they will take some stopping and beating. It was a Flag Day stroll for Celtic on the opening day of the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign.