Brendan Rodgers is looking for Celtic to return to domestic dominance at Kilmarnock after being handed a harsh European lesson by Valencia.

The Hoops' 2-0 defeat by the Spanish side in the first-leg of the Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday has left them with a monumental task in the return game in the Mestalla stadium next week.

It was the Scottish champions' first defeat of 2019 after seven straight wins, and their first goals conceded this year, with the Northern Irishman blaming the defeat on basic mistakes and a higher level of opposition.

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Rodgers now wants his players to at least maintain their five-point gap over Old Firm rivals Rangers at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership when they travel to Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon.

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The former Liverpool boss said: "Kilmarnock is always a tough game for us. We have to recover from Thursday, which we will do, and then expect a tough game.

"The players will be ready. The energy we have had after the break has been good. The team has been playing quickly, creating opportunities and taking the chances.

"Unbeaten, defensively strong, we haven't made many mistakes, and as a team, we have pressed the game very well. So we will need to be that at Kilmarnock."

Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke says he is expecting Celtic to respond to their defeat by Valencia.

"They will be smarting a little bit, they are not used to losing. So to lose a home game in Europe at that stage in the competition will be disappointing for them. We expect a reaction from them but we will be ready for it."

Team news

Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham suffered a recurrence of a hamstring complaint last week and left-back Kieran Tierney is working his way back to fitness from a hip problem which has kept him out for two months.

Anthony Ralston, Filip Benkovic, Tom Rogic, Eboue Kouassi, Daniel Arzani and Leigh Griffiths remain out.

For Kilmarnock, Stuart Findley is rated as 50/50 to make the clash, while striker Eamonn Brophy returned to full training this week and could make the matchday squad.

Opta stats

• Kilmarnock have won two of their last four league games against Celtic (D1 L1) - as many victories as in their previous 54 Scottish Premiership matches against them beforehand.
• Celtic have lost both of their last two trips to Kilmarnock in the league - only against Rangers have they ever lost three consecutive away Scottish Premiership matches versus a single opponent (in November 2000, March 2008 and February 2010).
• Kilmarnock's 1-2 defeat against Hearts in their last home league game ended a run of five consecutive victories on home soil - Killie last lost back-to-back league games at Rugby Park in November 2017 (run of three).
• Celtic have won all five of their league games in 2019, scoring 13 and conceding none.
• Kilmarnock have made just 41 changes to their starting line-up between Scottish Premiership games this season (level with Aberdeen) - no side has made fewer.

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