The time for talking is finally over as Celtic begin their competitive season.
Celtic face St Mirren at Parkhead where club legend Paul McStay will return to fly the flag to celebrate last season’s title win.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are the overwhelming favourites to win the league and will already be encouraged after Rangers dropped points in their first fixture against Motherwell.
A strong start is needed and thankfully, Rodgers is an expert at that.
Brendan Rodgers hasn’t lost the first game of the season in over 10 years
We all know by now that the Celtic manager is one of the best in the game and someone that understands just how important it is to make a winning start.
Thankfully for Rodgers, losing isn’t something he has experienced in a long time.
As per BBC Sport’s stat pack, the Hoops boss hasn’t lost a game on the opening day since a 3-0 defeat to West Brom when he was in charge of Liverpool in 2012.
Since then, the 52-year-old has won 10 and drawn two of the 12 games and will be expected to continue that unbeaten start going forward.
Brendan Rodgers has told Celtic what he needs to stay beyond this season
All the talk heading into the game has been about Rodgers’ future with the Northern Irishman out of contract at the end of the season.
Talks have started between Rodgers and Celtic but in an interview with Sky Sports, he said the club need to match his ambition.
He said: “My overriding feeling is I want to help the club continue moving forward. I’m not the type of manager to just maintain something, I’m not the right guy to have.
“I need to build, I need to work with players, develop individual players.
“If the club feel that that is something that they want, then I’m pretty sure we’d come to an agreement and if not, we’ll give absolutely everything until the very end here.”
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