Scottish Premiership: Chris Sutton rules Celtic out of title race and says ‘it’s between Hearts and Rangers’
Hearts are one point clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership with Celtic a further two behind; Derek McInnes' side beat Motherwell; Celtic won 1-0 at home to St Mirren; Rangers came out on top in a nine-goal epic at Falkirk
Sunday 12 April 2026 16:21, UK
"I don't think Celtic can win it. It's out of Hearts and Rangers."
Chris Sutton believes it will be too big an ask for his former team to clinch their 14th league title since 2011.
It has been a Scottish Premiership title race like no other and there is no margin for error with just five games left in the most dramatic of seasons.
All three won on the same weekend for the first time since January, meaning Hearts remain top of the table, one point ahead of Rangers with Celtic a further two behind.
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Celtic were far from their best in a 1-0 win at home to St Mirren, Hearts came from behind to beat Motherwell 3-1 and Rangers provided the drama with an incredible comeback to win 6-3 at Falkirk.
All three will play each other again but Sutton doubts whether Celtic can retain their crown.
"It's impossible to predict. I don't think Celtic can win it, it's out of Hearts and Rangers," the ex-Hoops striker said after watching the nine-goal epic at the Falkirk Stadium.
"You just worry about the next game, winning the next game and getting on with it.
"Rangers' focus now will be Motherwell, who have been poor of late.
"But it wouldn't be a great surprise if Motherwell, the way they've played, turn up at Ibrox and give Rangers a really hard game."
Scott Arfield was in the last Rangers squad to win a top-flight title in 2021 and believes it is too early to rule any of the contenders out of the race.
"The next game is always the most important but of course Rangers look at where they think they can win and have belief at where they can win," he said on Sky Sports.
"When you get to this stage, you need to find a way. Hearts will feel the same, Celtic will feel the exact same, there's no room for error. Absolutely zero room for error.
"Rangers had to win today, they had to find a way. And like Hearts and Celtic did over the weekend, they have found a way and this title race is going to go right down to the wire."
Initial post-split games to be shown live on Sky Sports
- April 25: Celtic vs Falkirk, 5.30pm
- April 26: Hibernian vs Hearts, 4.30pm
- May 3: Hibernian vs Celtic, 12pm
- May 4: Hearts vs Rangers, 5.30pm
- May 9: Motherwell vs Hearts, 8pm
- May 10: Celtic vs Rangers, 12pm
