Celtic were confirmed as Scottish Premiership champions courtesy of a 5-0 win over Old Firm rivals Rangers at Parkhead on Sunday afternoon.
The Hoops were ahead with 15 minutes played thanks to a close-range finish from Odsonne Edouard, who would go on to double his tally before the interval.
James Forrest and Tom Rogic then netted within two minutes of each other either side of half time, before Callum McGregor completed the rout with nearly 40 minutes still to play.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded in Glasgow with our extensive updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the final Old Firm derby showdown of the season between Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead. The Hoops can win a seventh Scottish Premiership title in succession this afternoon if they pick up victory against their arch-rivals on home soil, while the Gers are left battling for a top-three finish.
CELTIC TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Lustig, Tierney; Brown, Ntcham; Forrest, Rogic, McGregor; Edouard
SUBS: Bain, Hendry, Griffiths, Simunovic, Roberts, Sinclair, Kouassi
Starting with a look at the home side, Brendan Rodgers has made a couple of changes to the side that lost to Hibernian last time out. Odsonne Edouard, the hero from the derby meeting last month, returns to the starting lineup in place of the benched Leigh Griffiths. Elsewhere, Mikael Lustig is restored to the backline in place of Jack Hendry, who drops down to the bench.
A big afternoon ahead for Edouard, then, with the 20-year-old Frenchman currently on nine goals for the campaign in all competitions - the most recent of those coming in the 2-1 loss at Hibs last weekend. There is a milestone appearance for Dedryck Boyata, meanwhile, as he makes his 100th appearance for the Bhoys, and there is also a start in the middle of the park for Old Firm veteran Scott Brown.
RANGERS TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Alnwick; Tavernier, McCrorie, Martin, Halliday; Holt, Dorrans; Candeias, Windass, Murphy; Cummings
SUBS: Kelly, Hodson, Rossiter, Docherty, Goss, O'Halloran, Morelos
In terms of the visitors, Graeme Murty has made one change from the team that beat Hearts last time out. It is an enforced changes, as left-back Declan John misses out through injury and is replaced in the backline by Andy Halliday. Ross McCrorie and Russell Martin therefore retain their spot at centre-back, while James Tavernier is at right-back and Jak Alnwick in goal.
Jason Cummings is given the nod over Alfredo Morelos up top, with support provided by Daniel Candeias and Jamie Murphy. Defensive midfield is comprised of Jason Holt and Graeme Dorrans, meanwhile, and there is also a spot in the starting lineup for Josh Windass, who has 17 goals to his name in all competitions this term from midfield, including one in the 3-2 loss to today's opponents last month.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Celtic are unbeaten in their past eight Scottish Premiership showdowns with Rangers, winning by a 5-1 margin in two of those, while the Gers have come away victorious from this ground on just one of their past 10 trips in the top flight - a 3-1 victory in October 2010. All-in-all, this is the 413th Old Firm encounter.
Celtic head into the match sitting top of the table, seven points in front of Aberdeen with this game in hand to play. Lose today and things are a tad more interesting at the top, yet even if that does happen they still have plenty of opportunities to redeem themselves and secure a seventh title on the bounce. Rangers, meanwhile, are 10 points behind the Hoops.
Rodgers's men missed out on the title last weekend when losing 2-1 to Hibernian, although in a strange way some supporters may well have taken that third loss of the season. Celtic can now win the title against their arch-rivals; something that those in attendance will remember far more fondly than if their side had got the job done at Easter Road.
All three defeats suffered by Celtic this season have come on their travels, with their last defeat here coming in December 2015, although they have dropped points six times at Parkhead this term. The Bhoys hit 106 points last season when cantering to the title, but the best they can hope for this time is 87 - they have not been as consistent but the dream of a double treble remains on.
Victory today will wrap up the title with time to spare, allowing Rodgers to focus on the Scottish Cup final clash with Motherwell on May 19. Worst case scenario, the Hoops come unstuck against their city rivals this afternoon and the pressure is then on slightly heading into games with Hearts, Kilmarnock and, on the final day, Aberdeen. For Rangers, meanwhile, they are now in a real battle for a top-three finish.
The Gers could do with a point from this fixture, knowing that they still have a trip to Easter Road to come before the season ends. Hibs won 5-3 against Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon to draw levels on points with the Light Blues, while Aberdeen are now three points better off in second after playing a game more. This is not, therefore, a match that Murty's men can afford to discount.
The challenge for next season is to challenge Celtic for the title, which looks like being an extremely tough task for rumoured incoming boss Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool playing legend, who is currently employed by the Reds as Under-18s boss, is said to be locked in talks with the Germs over replacing Murty in the summer. Rangers have lost just two of their last 21 away games, having previously lost three in a row.
With kickoff at Parkhead now just a couple of minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Brendan Rodgers: "I've seen the speculation over the last couple of days [regarding Steven Gerrard] and I was a little bit surprised when I saw it. I think the most important thing when you are starting is out it's about if the time is right and when you feel ready. Especially when it's your first job, it's not necessarily a club, it's about the right club. If the speculation is right and Stevie has spoken to them then there may be something in that, if he feels it is the right club. He has always wanted to be a manager, I know from our time working together closely at Liverpool. It's always something he wanted to do."
Graeme Murty: "We've had some really good games against Celtic this season and it's about time we took some points off them. I don't have to do anything [to fire up the players]. It's an Old Firm game, it's an opportunity to stop them winning the title at their place. We've got to go out with an aggressive mindset and make sure we can make it as uncomfortable as we possibly can. It's a hurt group. The players have been hurt about the things that have been said about them after the last game [the 4-0 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic]. They are desperate to put things right. That's great for me."
KICKOFF! We are up and running in this 413th Old Firm derby at Parkhead. Celtic know that victory will against their biggest rivals will seal a 49th Scottish top-flight title; Rangers need the points to keep afloat in third place.
Andy Halliday, in for the injured Declan John at left-back today, with a good challenge to halt Celtic's first attacking move. Alnwick then raced well off his line and produced a diving header to clear away a long ball over the top.
SAVE! An early save for Jak Alnwick to make, getting a couple of strong hands to Olivier Ntcham's bullet of a strike from inside the box. Another shot comes in moments later which was deflected wide for a corner kick.
SAVE! Alnwick, competing in his first Old Firm derby, makes another smart stop, this time pushing away Ncham's curler. Celtic completely dominating proceedings, buoyed by the noise being made by those inside Parkhead.
Rangers need to settle down because they are desperately struggling to keep their foot on the ball. Suggestions of handball from Halliday before Alnwick made the first of his early saves, but it would have been extremely harsh to award a pen.
CLOSE! Mikael Lustig makes a good run towards the front post and flicks the corner over Jak Alnwick's crossbar. The Bhoys closing in on an opening goal and will argue that they already deserve to be in front here.
YELLOW CARD! Jason Cummings with a nasty challenge on Kieran Tierney out wide which, after a fair bit of deliberation from the officials, leads to a yellow card - and not a red - being shown to the young Rangers striker.
GOAL! CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS (ODSONNE EDUOARD)
Celtic take a deserved lead thanks to some brilliant play from Kieran Tierney down the left. The full-back spotted Odsonne Edouard, given the nod over Leigh Griffiths up top today, and the striker stuck out a leg to divert it past Jak Alnwick from close range.
In the two minutes leading up to Celtic's opener the visitors had enjoyed their best spell of possession. No denying that the Bhoys deserved that breakthrough goal, though, because they have looked well up for this one right from the off.
SHOT! Callum McGregor with a curler than ends a yard over the bar. Celtic are creating chances galore and, on the basis of the opening 20 minutes, they could easily match their 5-1 win against Rangers from a year ago today.
The challenge for Celtic now is to maintain these levels throughout the game. A second goal would be handy; until they find it Rangers remain in this game and certainly have the ability to snatch a goal on the counter-attack.
Just a constant bombardment from Celtic, who are completely pulling their opponents apart. The bad news for home boss Rodgers is that his side have scored just the one goal, meaning that the title celebrations cannot start just yet.
Celtic have enjoyed three quarters of possession so far at Parkhead but it feels like a lot more. Jak Alnwick has made a couple of decent stops and a couple of other moves from the hosts also nearly culminated in a goal.
Callum McGregor, whose best moment so far was a curled shot over the bar, sends a decent delivery into the middle that is cut out. A bizarre incident at the other end - a deflected shot hit the referee and trickled out of play, leading to a corner.
SAVE! At long, long last Rangers have managed to get a grip on the game. Jason Holt is picked out by Jamie Murphy and gets a decent low effort on target, which Hoops keeper Craig Gordon got down to his left to push aside.
Celtic not quite as dominant as they were in the opening 25 minutes or so, allowing Rangers to grow into things a little more. If the Gers can snatch a 1-1 draw here it will feel like a victory in many ways, delaying their rivals' celebrations.
All of a sudden it is Celtic who are struggling to keep hold of the ball for sustained spells. The Gers could easily have been two or three down with half an hour played, but all of a sudden we have more of a balanced match on our hands.
Edouard goes down inside the box but he was looking for the penalty - not enough contact. The Bhoys starting to build some momentum once again but chances are not coming as freely as they were in the opening quarter of the contest.
Fast approaching half time at Glasgow and it remains 1-0 to Celtic. The best chance since the Hoops edged in front fell the way of their opponents - Jason Holt being denied by Craig Gordon down low about 10 minutes ago.
Josh Windass is sent in behind, leaving Celtic completely exposed at the back. The midfielder had little to aim for in the middle, though, and his cutback was dealt with in a straightforward manner by the visitors.
GOAL! CELTIC 2-0 RANGERS (ODSONNE EDOUARD)
Celtic have themselves a second goal, and it is Odsonne Edouard who has bagged it. The Frenchman charged at the opposition defence and swept the ball across Jak Alnwick into the far corner - he is really starting to enjoy these fixtures against Rangers!
So disappointing for Murty's men, who were looking the more threatening between Celtic's first goal and second. You have to fear for the visitors at this point - just how many could the Bhoys get in the remaining 45 minutes of the contest?
GOAL! CELTIC 3-0 RANGERS (JAMES FORREST)
Oh dear! Rangers are completely falling apart now, conceding a second goal in the space of four minutes at the end of this first half. James Forrest jinks his way past a couple of opposition men and, like Edouard before him, simply blasts the ball through Alnwick.
HALF TIME: CELTIC 3-0 RANGERS
Celtic have blown their opponents away in the opening 45 minutes to start the title party a little earlier than planned. No way back for Rangers now, and they are simply looking to keep the scoring down in the second half - it could get embarrassing.
Aiming to extend his unbeaten run against the Gers, which stood at eight wins and two draws heading into this match, Brendan Rodgers sent out his players fired up and in the mood for some goals. Olivier Ntcham twice tested Old Firm debutant Jak Alnwick inside the opening seven minutes - one a belter from close range and the other a curler from further back.
Celtic were creating chances galore, next coming close through Mikael Lustig's near-post flick, and the opening goal was well deserved when it eventually arrived 14 minutes in. Some fine play from Kieran Tierney down the left opened up space for the full-back to pick out Odsonne Edouard, who rewarded his manager's faith for a derby day start by sticking out a leg to divert the ball past Alnwick.
Rangers managed to grow into the game between the hosts' first two goals, with Craig Gordon doing well to get down to his left and push aside Jamie Murphy's low shot, while Josh Windass was played in behind but failed to pick out a teammate. The Bhoys put the game - and indeed the title - beyond reach in the space of four minutes at the end of the first half, though, as Edouard charged at the opposition defence and swept the ball across Alnwick, before James Forrest did likewise after jinking past a couple of opposition men inside the box.
BENCH WATCH!
CELTIC SUBS: Bain, Hendry, Griffiths, Simunovic, Roberts, Sinclair, Kouassi
RANGERS SUBS: Kelly, Hodson, Rossiter, Docherty, Goss, O'Halloran, Morelos
RESTART! We are back up and running at Parkhead, where Celtic are looking to build on - rather than sit back on - a three-goal lead. No changes made by either managed at the interval, so it is as you were for the start of the second half.
GOAL! CELTIC 4-0 RANGERS (TOM ROGIC)
Whatever Graeme Murty said at half time clearly did not work! It is 4-0 thanks to a simple finish from Tom Rogic, who tucked the ball into the net - left largely unguarded - from 20 yards after a couple of shots were blocked.
This really could get embarrassing for Rangers now. A year to the day since being thrashed 5-1, they face not only losing by four goals once again but also seeing their arch-rivals win the title for a seventh season in a row - double whammy!
GOAL! CELTIC 5-0 RANGERS (CALLUM MCGREGOR)
Well if it wasn't embarrassing beforehand it certainly is now - Celtic have a fifth. Edouard turned provider this time, getting the better of Tavernier and spotting McGregor in front of goal, and it was then a simple task of helping it past Alnwick.
Hard to put into words how pathetic this performance has been from Rangers this afternoon. Each of the goals scored by Celtic could have been prevented and now, with over half an hour to play, Celtic need two goals to match their record winning margin in the Old Firm derby.
CLOSE! Josh Windass with a decent shot, which clipped the post on its way out of play. That will be his last involvement on the match, as Alfredo Morelos is now on in his place. Looks like a 4-4-2 for the visitors now.
SAVE! Rangers have gone seven minutes without conceding - small steps! Olivier Ntcham takes a touch to lift up the ball and another to belt a half-volley on target, which Jak Alnwick deserves credit for pushing aside.
If Steven Gerrard is sat at home watching this he may have second thoughts about taking up the job offer. A truly horrendous showing from the visitors, bar a 10-minute spell towards the end of the first half when they actually managed to keep their foot on the ball.
SAVE! Jak Alnwick is keeping the score down at the moment, producing another save to keep out James Forrest from close range. Up the other end, substitute striker Alfredo Morelos has a good chance but fails to take it.
YELLOW CARD! Ross McCrorie is cautioned, meaning that he will miss the Gers' next game. Jake Alnwick then made another phenomenal save to keep out Tom Rogic after the midfielder's initial shot was stopped on the line.
CELTIC SUB! Things could be about to get even worse for Celtic as Scott Sinclair has been brought on for Tom Rogic with 22 minutes to play. Fresh legs running at you when five goals behind is not what you want if you are a Rangers player!
SAVE! The biggest surprise will be if Celtic fail to add to their tally because they are relentless at the moment. Forrest again at the heart of this latest shot, cutting in from the right and forcing another save out of Alnwick.
SUBS! In an attempt to disrupt Celtic's flow, Rangers make their second change of the afternoon - Greg Docherty is on for Graham Dorrans. The hosts use the break in play to make a change of their own, as Jack Hendry replaces Mikael Lustig.
Celtic certainly have another couple of goals in them before this one is over. Five is good but they will want to match the seven netted in their previous highest win against their Old Firm rivals. That really would be the perfect way to celebrate this latest title success.
CELTIC SUB! Edouard, who has been phenomenal this afternoon, is replaced up top by Leigh Griffiths - all three subs made by Celtic. Alfredo Morelos and Jason Holt have just been cautioned, taking the Gers' tally to four yellows.
Celtic have taken their foot off the gas a little over the last 10 minutes or so, seemingly happy with their five goals. Rangers have been taken apart today and will simply want the full-time whistle to blow sooner rather than later.
The hosts having so much joy all over the field. Almost too easy for Sinclair, who cuts inside and then goes back on the outside, before seeing his cross into the middle headed behind for a corner kick. The Hoops are due a sixth goal.
CHANCE! Big chance for Leigh Griffiths to add his name to the scoresheet. The Scottish striker was through on goal but was too desperate to get a shot away on his left which, when it eventually arrived, ended with the ball in the stands.
So for the first time in 19 years the title will be decided in the Glasgow derby. Rangers came out on top all those years ago, but it is Celtic who are partying now - as they have done in each of the past seven campaigns.
YELLOW CARD! Jack Hendry becomes the first Celtic player to be cautioned for his challenge. The match just petering out a little, and the referee is unlikely to prolong things with just a couple of minutes expected to be added on.
Celtic are now simply going through the motions, although even now they still look like they have another goal in them. A sixth really would be the icing on the cake, and you have to say that they have deserved this margin of victory today.
A seventh successive Scottish Premiership title now just a couple minutes away from being secured for Celtic. They could have added to their tally, having notched up their fourth and fifth goals early in the second half, but Rodgers will not be complaining.
FULL TIME: CELTIC 5-0 RANGERS
CELTIC CROWNED SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS!
Celtic are champions of Scotland for a 49th time - and a seventh season in a row. The Hoops took apart Old Firm rivals Rangers with a 5-0 win at Parkhead, netting three times before half time and twice more in the second half for a famous victory.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Glasgow. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from Celtic's storming win will be available elsewhere on the site later this afternoon. Thanks for joining!
