Analysing the Celtic threats Hibs must find a way to stop

Brendan Rodgers’ side have moved seven points clear of Rangers at the Premiership summit, and already look clear favourites to clinch another title. They fired four past Hearts last week and make the trip to Edinburgh for the second weekend in a row in search of another capital three points.

Nick Montgomery and his players had some reflection to do this week following a limp 4-0 defeat at Ibrox last Saturday, but will surely be fired up to make amends in front of an expectant crowd. But what can they expect from Celtic?

The Hibs Observer takes a closer look at the Parkhead outfit in this week’s opposition preview and analysis.

There is a stark difference between how Celtic have operated in recent weeks compared to the start of the season. Re-watching their Viaplay Cup defeat to Kilmarnock in August, Rodgers’ side looked static and laboured, with some players seemingly struggling to adjust to the change in manager and, therefore, style.

Celtic had been drilled relentlessly in two years of ‘Angeball’, with Rodgers’ return bringing with it tweaks and changes. It’s now apparent there merely seemed to be teething issues in some aspects, while Rodgers has implemented some further changes since the early weeks of the campaign.

Postecoglou's influence lingers

What was immediately noticeable from the early of weeks of Rodgers’ big comeback was how he appeared to have dispensed with the inverted full-back role which had brought Celtic so much success under Postecoglou. There was a drop-off in the performance of Greg Taylor, who had benefited so significantly from having license to drift into midfield and pick passes.

Playing as a ‘conventional’ full-back in a possession-dominant team is perhaps not his strong suit, and you could see against Hearts that he is once again being encouraged to come in the pitch, as is Alistair Johnston on the other side.

In attack, Celtic’s first league of the campaign against Ross County had introduced another stylistic change, with Kyogo Furuhashi dropping considerably deeper to get involved in build-up. This was a clear shift from how he almost exclusively operated on the shoulder of defenders under Postecoglou, but again it is a tweak which does not seem to have lasted long. At Tynecastle, Kyogo spent much of the game playing high against centre-backs Kye Rowles and Frankie Kent, less involved in deeper areas.

Rotation, rotation, rotation

Hearts found themselves struggling badly to deal with Celtic’s movement last weekend, reacting too late to events that are already in motion. Rodgers’ side are excellent at causing confusion in opposition ranks, with players given freedom to interchange positions.

What’s doubly difficult for their rivals is they have players adept at causing problems without even receiving the ball. Take the opening two goals on Gorgie, for example. Reo Hatate takes up a clever position in the pocket between midfield and attack, and his presence tempts Kent forward just far enough to create a gap in behind for Matt O’Riley to gallop into.

Celtic’s speed of thought and execution was another level to Hearts’, and O’Riley is picked out by an excellent dink over the top from Luis Palma before applying a volleyed finish.

For the second, you can practically see Calem Nieuwenhof discombobulating as he tries to figure out where he should be. With Hatate in possession, Maeda makes a dart which clears up even more space for O’Riley, who has drifted out to the right flank.

Alex Lowry should cut out Hatate’s pass but has one eye on Johnston at right-back. Unsure whether to track Maeda or press O’Riley, Nieuwenhof does a full 360 degree turn before deciding to move out to the midfielder to close down.

But it’s too much ground to make up, and when Alex Cochrane fails to track Hatate’s run, Celtic are two passes away from Maeda tapping into an empty net.

The trap that Hearts fall into, particularly with this goal, is so many players watch the ball instead of where their opponents.

Cochrane is watching O’Riley when the ball goes out to him, and that means he can’t see Hatate darting forward. After Maeda continues his run into the middle, neither Rowles nor Kent pay him much attention at all, instead keeping their eyes trained on the ball.

Easter Road record provides hope

Hibs have taken at least one point from Celtic in nine of their last 11 visits to Easter Road. It is not a ground the Parkhead side traditionally fare well at, even in periods where Hibs have not been in particularly good form.

There seems to be a growing apathy among supporters across Scotland when it comes to matches against Celtic and Rangers, such is the ever-expanding gulf in resources, but Hibs fans can take heart from the fact this tends to be an occasion their team turns up for.

READ MORE: How Nick Montgomery could tweak Hibs system for Celtic test

The 4-2 win at the tail end of last season was one of the more memorable nights of the campaign, and although repeating that is a tall order, a starting point for most Hibs fans will be to try and lay a glove on Celtic, having failed to do so against Rangers.

They are certainly hitting their stride under Rodgers, but the likes of Kilmarnock and St Johnstone have demonstrated that results can be earned if the gameplan and execution is there.