Friday 22 December 2017 11:50, UK
Well, it's finally over.
Celtic's incredible domestic run of 69 matches without defeat eventually came to an end last weekend thanks to a magnificent performance by Hearts.
Brendan Rodgers' squad managed to put their first Scottish defeat behind him with a 2-0 win against Partick Thistle on Wednesday, with a top-of-the-table clash against Aberdeen to come on Saturday.
After their heroics, Hearts travel for their first away match in eight outings to face a St Johnstone side who are clinging on to their top-six place.
The early Saturday kick-off sees Steve Clarke's Kilmarnock host Rangers as Graeme Murty looks to get back to winning ways after their home defeat to St Johnstone last weekend.
Four straight losses for Motherwell have taken them out of the top-half of the table after an impressive start to the season. They host Neil McCann's Dundee, who sit just outside of the relegation places.
Following two straight defeats Hibs welcome Ross County; who are without a win in six matches themselves.
Partick Thistle remain bottom of the Premiership with just one win in seven games. Martin Canning brings his Hamilton Accies side to the west end of Glasgow on Saturday with a view on extending the gap at the foot of the table.
Ian Crocker and Andy Walker are on hand to give you their thoughts ahead of this weekend's matches.
Kilmarnock v Rangers - Saturday 12.30pm
Andy Walker-
Kilmarnock 0-1 Rangers
Key Player- Ross McCrorie
One of many young players making a strong impact on Scottish football this season
Ian Crocker-
Kilmarnock 2-2 Rangers
Key Player- Youssouf Mulumbu
Reunited with Steve Clarke and adding experience and guile to the Rugby Park ranks
Opta Stats-
Kilmarnock haven't beaten Rangers in the Scottish Premiership since the Gers' return to the top-flight last season, although three of the four league meetings since the start of 2016/17 have been drawn (L1).
However, Killie are unbeaten in their last three home top-flight encounters with Rangers (W1 D2), conceding just once, after losing each of the previous three by a 10-3 aggregate scoreline.
Kilmarnock have gone four Scottish Premiership games without defeat (W3 D1) for the first time since April; they have not gone on a longer run without losing in the top-flight since March 2015 (seven games).
Rangers have scored 22 goals away from home in the Scottish Premiership this season, more than any other side.
There has been a player sent off in three of the last five Scottish Premiership clashes between these two sides since February 2012, including Ryan Jack in their last meeting in October (1-1).
Celtic v Aberdeen - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Celtic 3-1 Aberdeen
Key Player- Stuart Armstrong
Back to goal-scoring form in midweek against Thistle.
Ian Crocker-
Celtic 1-1 Aberdeen
Key Player- Gary Mackay-Steven (Aberdeen)
After last week's hat-trick against Hibs, he must be relishing his return to Celtic Park.
Opta Stats-
Celtic are currently enjoying a six-game winning streak against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, their longest such run against them in the competition since September 2008 when they beat them on a ninth consecutive occasion.
Indeed, the Dons are on an incredible 24-match losing run at Celtic Park in the league, last beating the Hoops there in October 2004 (3-2).
Although their 56-game unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership came to an end last Sunday against Hearts, Celtic remain the only undefeated side at home in the competition this season (P9 W6 D3 L0) and haven't lost a league match at Celtic Park in over two years (2-1 against Motherwell on Dec 19th 2015).
Aberdeen are on a three-match winning streak in the league, winning each of the last two by a margin of three goals. They last won three consecutive top-flight matches by a margin of 3+ goals in February 2015, a run which was ended by Celtic.
Kieran Tierney both scored and assisted a goal in Celtic's 3-0 win over Aberdeen in October, one of only two occasions he has done so in the Scottish Premiership (also vs. Partick Thistle on December 20th).
Hibernian v Ross County - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Hibernian 3-1 Ross County
Key Player- Dylan McGeouch
On his day, as effective as John McGinn in Hibs midfield.
Ian Crocker-
Hibernian 1-0 Ross County
Key Player- Martin Boyle
After that drubbing at Aberdeen, Hibs need to eke out a result.
Opta Stats-
Hibs have lost only one of the last five top-flight games against Ross County (W3 D1), winning the first meetings this season 1-0 courtesy of a Paul Hanlon goal.
These sides have identical records in the three Scottish Premiership meetings at Easter Road, winning once each, drawing the other and scoring two goals apiece in those matches.
Hibernian have conceded eight goals in their last three league games (D1 L2), more than they had in their previous 10 combined (seven).
The Staggies are winless in their last six league games (D2 L4), failing to score in three of those matches.
Craig Curran has netted in back-to-back away league games for Ross County (two goals).
Motherwell v Dundee - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Motherwell 1-2 Dundee
Key Player- Mark O'Hara
Motherwell have to be aware of his goal-scoring threat from midfield.
Ian Crocker-
Motherwell 0-2 Dundee
Key Player- Glen Kamara
Started all bar one game and you can see a bit of former club Arsenal in him.
Opta Stats-
Motherwell's 1-0 win over Dundee in October ended a run of five without a win over them in the league. They last won consecutive top-flight meetings back in November 2004 (run of four consecutive victories)
The Dark Blues have won their last two league trips to Fir Park by an aggregate score of 8-3. They last won three consecutive trips there in the Scottish Premiership in December 2000 (five straight wins).
The Steelmen have lost all four of their Scottish Premiership games in December and have won just one of their last 10 in the final month of the calendar year (D3 L6).
Dundee are the only side yet to gain a point from a losing position in the Scottish Premiership this season, losing all 11 games in which they have fallen behind.
Marcus Haber has scored five goals in four Scottish Premiership appearances against Motherwell for Dundee, including back-to-back braces at Fir Park; he hasn't scored more than once in the competition against any other side for the club.
Partick Thistle v Hamilton Accies - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Partick Thistle 0-0 Hamilton Accies
Key Player- Jordan Turnbull
Thistle have to stop conceding soft goals.
Ian Crocker-
Partick Thistle 1-1 Hamilton Accies
Key Player- Dougie Imrie
Started every match this season and a fantastic competitor in all of them.
Opta Stats-
Since a 1-2 loss in their first ever Scottish Premiership encounter in August 2014, Partick haven't lost to Hamilton in a league game, although eight of the 11 meetings in that time have been drawn (W3).
Hamilton have never kept a clean sheet away at Partick in the Scottish Premiership, conceding 13 goals in the six previous visits (W1 D3 L2).
The Jags have won three of their last four home games in the Scottish Premiership (L1), having won none of their first five at the start of this season.
No Scottish Premiership side has lost more points from winning positions this season than Hamilton Academical (14).
Kris Doolan has scored seven goals in his last five home league games against Hamilton; against no other side has he scored more for the Jags in the top-flight.
St Johnstone v Hearts - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
St Johnstone 1-1 Hearts
Key Player- Don Cowie
One of many Hearts star performers in that astonishing 4-0 win over Celtic.
Ian Crocker-
St Johnstone 0-2 Hearts
Key Player- Kyle Lafferty
Great goal and a big performance in Hearts' breathtaking win over Celtic.
Opta Stats-
St. Johnstone are unbeaten in their last nine league meetings with Hearts at McDiarmid Park (W6 D3), winning each of the last three all by a 1-0 scoreline.
Hearts' 1-0 win at Tynecastle in October ended a run of seven league games without a victory over the Saints; the last time they did the league double over St. Johnstone came back in the 2010/11 season.
No side has scored fewer goals at home in the Scottish Premiership this season than St. Johnstone (nine).
This will be Hearts' first away league game since the 24th of October (a 1-0 loss against Hibernian) after a run of eight straight matches at Tynecastle, most recently including a 4-0 win over Celtic, ending their 56-game unbeaten run in the division.
Manuel Milinkovic had a hand in three of Hearts' four goals against league-leaders Celtic (two goals, one assist); he hadn't scored and had just one assist in his first 11 games of the season prior to that victory.
