Celtic seek domestic balm to ease sting of latest European wound

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.

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

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.

"They will have had a full week to prepare and they will bring that energy into the game, so we need to be able to match that and then to make no mistakes.'

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