Brendan Rodgers’ side are experiencing a difficult spell.
Celtic’s stodgy start to the season continued on Sunday afternoon. The Scottish champions fell to a 2-1 defeat against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, losing thanks to a stoppage-time header from Stuart Findley.
The defeat leaves Celtic in fifth place after six games, six points behind leaders Hearts.
Rangers, who play St Johnstone later on Sunday, can leapfrog their Glasgow rivals with a victory. Celtic are currently a long way from completing another domestic treble.
✅ 3-1 vs Livingston
❌ 0-1 vs Hearts
✅ 1-0 vs Hamilton
✅ 1-0 vs Rangers
⭕️ 0-0 vs St Mirren
❌ 1-2 vs KilmarnockCeltic are fifth in the Scottish Premiership after their first six matches, six points behind leaders Hearts.#BTSportScore pic.twitter.com/OgHScwgybj
— BT Sport Score (@btsportscore) September 23, 2018
Leigh Griffiths gave the away side the lead in the first half before Chris Burke equalised for Kilmarnock.
In the final seconds, Findley, a former Celtic youth player, guided home a deft header to give Steve Clarke’s team a memorable victory.
So far this season, Celtic have yet to come close to repeating their impressive form of the last two campaigns. They went unbeaten in domestic competition in Rodgers’ first season and swept all before them last year.
However, it hasn’t gone to plan so far this season. Celtic failed to reach the group stages of the Champions League and have struggled in Scotland. The Glasgow team have only scored six goals in six league games.
There are echoes of Rodgers’ third season at Liverpool when two years of impressive progress ground to a halt in a frustrating campaign.
However, Celtic still have the most talented squad in Scotland and Rodgers is a very good coach, so there is plenty of time to turn things around.
At the moment though, they’re on course to spend the next week below bitter rivals Rangers, who have been rejuvenated by new manager Steven Gerrard.
Over on beIN Sports, former Rangers striker Andy Gray appeared to enjoy Celtic’s poor result. “Go on the Rangers,” he shouted as he poked fun at John Collins, his fellow pundit and former Celtic midfielder.
"Yous two are unprofessional!!!" 😠
John Collins fails to spot Celtic losing in stoppage time… Andy Gray & @richardajkeys take great pleasure in breaking the news to him. #beINPL #SPFL #CelticFC #RangersFC pic.twitter.com/S2YxcYZVAb
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) September 23, 2018
