Can Rangers still defeat Celtic to the league title?

European commitments for Glasgow's big two and Hearts take centre stage this midweek, with tricky ties across the board.

The focus of this piece is purely on domestic business in the Scottish Premiership, as we discuss whether Rangers can still topple Celtic to claim the title despite the stark differences in form at this early stage.

YES - Ewan Paton

We're officially into hot chocolate season with the beginning of October marked today. 

So, while the year has certainly come around the bend and is about to head towards the final stretch, the 2024/25 season is very much still settling down.

Only six (seven for some teams) matches have been played. After the first third of games - where every team has played each other once - is usually when you'll get a feel for who will be fighting relegation, for the top six and European places. That said, it can sometimes take a bit longer than that, and given the quality of the teams in the league is much of a muchness, any side can go on an extended unbeaten run to push their way up the division (see Kilmarnock post-November last season).

To an extent, some of what's been said above isn't entirely relevant to either Rangers or Celtic, as given their vast riches compared to the rest of Scotland, they're always expected to be the top two without fail.

Like most others though, form can falter at points, and particularly at the start of a campaign, it can take a bit longer for teams to hit their stride.

The likes of Rangers, Killie and Hearts all fall into that category this season for one reason or another. It seems highly unlikely the latter two will hang around the relegation places for too long given the strength of their squads, but it shows it can happen.

As for the Ibrox club, if we take their Scottish Premiership form in isolation, they've had one draw and one defeat more than Celtic, with four wins registered. So, Celtic - and Aberdeen - hold a five-point gap over their rivals at this stage having won all of their games.

The concern for those associated with Rangers will be that more than a few of their performances have been less than convincing, though. Celtic, by comparison, have looked relentless in their pursuit of sweeping aside all that comes before them domestically.

It's important to note that Rangers' one defeat came at Celtic Park, with the champions running out easy 3-0 winners. So, if Philippe Clement's side are to win the title, they really ought to start picking up three points in these fixtures as opposed to constantly losing them.

That sounds incredibly basic and simple, but if the complexion of the league table remains the same until January 2 at the turn of the year, and Rangers then manage to beat Celtic in the next derby, then suddenly things look a lot brighter for them.

Rangers will need to show a marked improvement in performances to keep winning until then, it must be said. They've got trips to Rugby Park and Pittodrie to come in the weeks ahead, which, as in the past, could prove challenging.

If the gap at the summit extends beyond eight points between now and the next derby, given the contrasting form, it probably would be curtains in the title race.

However, it's still far too early to be ruling anything out for any team across the  Premiership this season.

NO - David Irvine

Five points is not a lot. Celtic's current lead over Rangers, on paper, in the Scottish Premiership is far from insurmountable. Consider the context...well, then the league is already over.

Brendan Rodgers' side have scored 20 goals in their six outings so far this season, conceding zero. Stats aren't everything, though, as Philippe Clement found out in his post-mortem after Rangers lost to Celtic despite the numbers suggesting a game much closer than 3-0.

But, when the stats are accompanied by an eye test which shows one club cruising week to week in scintillating form and never truly in danger of dropping points and another hoping to make it out every weekend without slipping on a banana peel: then there could be diminishing hopes of a genuine title race.

On current form, Aberdeen are a far more credible opposition to Celtic for the league crown. Though, the resolve of Jimmy Thelin's side will face much tougher tests in the coming weeks.

Rangers ought to be the second force in Scotland when wage budgets, fan backing and overall stature is considered. The worry, though, is that Celtic are in a different stratosphere to Rangers right now - both on and off the pitch.

Celtic have an array of talents in their squad and seem to only be getting better every week. Their balance sheet is sparkling too with huge fees earned over the summer and a bumper Champions League paycheck.

Beyond that, Celtic are just settled and in the rhythm necessary to grind out results and cope with the rigours of domestic football alongside their European exploits.

There is no panic, there is little drama and when something does go wrong, it is more often than not quickly resolved. Celtic are too slick on the pitch, too organised in the boardroom and too powerful in the market for Rangers to compete.

Clement does appear to possess the skills to transform Rangers from also-rans to genuine contenders but that would have to come over a number of seasons - the gulf currently is just far too wide.

A common adage suggests the title is decided in matches between Celtic and Rangers - if that's the case then you'd struggle to look beyond Celtic. They've got Rangers' number.

More worrying for those of an Ibrox persuasion is that the league could easily be decided by results against the other ten clubs. 

It would take either stupidity of immense confidence to suggest the title race is already over and there is no chance Rangers could rally.

That said, on current form there is more chance of an invincible season for Celtic than Rangers lifting the title next year.