When's the earliest Celtic can win the title? Unwanted Rangers hat-trick moves Hoops closer to 55

The Hoops are on course to become four-in-a-row champions before the Premiership split

Celtic are just THREE wins away from clinching their 55th title.

The champions-elect stretched their lead at the top of the league to a staggering 16 points after an entertaining 5-2 victory at St Mirren. And Rangers' latest collapse at home to Motherwell just hours prior - their third defeat on the bounce at Ibrox - means the Hoops are firmly on course to clinch four-in-a-row BEFORE the Premiership split.

Brendan Rodgers' winning machine continue their quest for a clean sweep with a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibs on Sunday. After that, the Treble-chasers host Rangers at Celtic Park on March 16, but it's mathematically impossible for the runaway leaders to wrap up the league against their bitter rivals.

Following the international break, Hearts make the trip to Parkhead before Gers travel to Dundee for a 5:30pm kick-off on the same day. A week later, Celtic then take on relegation-threatened St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park - and that could be the title-clinching day.

Maximum points against Gers and the Jambos would see Celts command at least a 19-point lead at the summit. And if they were to beat Saints, that would ensure the same advantage with just 18 points to play for.

Should Barry Ferguson's side stumble against Dundee or Hibs, then the Hoops could secure their record-extending 120th major honour even sooner. On the flip side, the Light Blues could delay the title party until matchday 33 by avoiding a derby defeat at Parkhead and winning the rest of their games.

Rodgers' table-toppers currently sit on 75 points but could push their championship tally past a century by winning their final ten fixtures.

Celtic fixtures before split

Rangers (H)

Hearts (H)

St Johnstone (A)

Kilmarnock (H)

Rangers fixtures before split

Celtic (A)

Dundee (A)

Hibs (H)

Aberdeen (A)