Brendan Rodgers reveals deep respect for Philippe Clement and airs Celtic sympathy over ongoing Rangers 'issues'

Brendan Rodgers admits he has sympathy for Philippe Clement's current predicament at Rangers after the Belgian was on the end of another defeat in Scotland's supreme fixture.

The champions opened up a five point gap over their rivals with an imperious display in their 3-0 win at Parkhead. Daizen Maeda and Kyogo fired the Hoops into a 2-0 lead at the interval before skipper Callum McGregor wrapped things up 15 minutes from time with a fine strike from distance. Belgian coach Clement has now failed to taste victory in all five of his matches in the dugout against Celtic, avoiding defeat once in a 3-3 draw at Ibrox back in April.

The Light Blues have endured a tough start to the campaign on and off the pitch, with the relocation to Hampden Park for the first set of home games in the season due to essential repairs at Ibrox casting a shadow over matters on the pitch. Clement's men also suffered a disappointing exit to Dynamo Kiev in qualifying for the Champions League and have been handed a tricky run of fixtures in the revamped group stages of the Europa League against the likes of Manchester United, Lyon and Tottenham.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the comprehensive in Glasgow's East End, ex Liverpool and Leicester manager Rodgers shared his empathy for the situation his opposite number at Rangers finds himself in. He said: "You always have to (show) respect. I thought Rangers started well in the game and I do respect Philippe (Clement) massively. He is having to work through a difficult challenge with not being at the stadium and having some other issues.

"But for us, we go into every game with that humility of knowing that we have to work. But to get to this point after a long pre-season, we have started so well and