Leigh Griffiths scored twice as champions Celtic launched their Ladbrokes Premiership title defence with an ominous 4-1 home victory over Hearts.

The Hoops are chasing a seventh successive league triumph this season and Brendan Rodgers saw his side start strongly on the opening day.

Undefeated in the Premiership last term, Celtic swept through their opening test of the new campaign, with Scott Sinclair and Callum McGregor also on target against the Jambos.

Celtic went ahead in the 29th minute when Griffiths made a darting run off Hearts defender Rafal Grzelak to meet a long pass forward, and shook off the Polish defender to prod past Jack Hamilton.

They pulled two clear after 51 minutes thanks to Sinclair. He tucked left-footed into the right corner from close range after Aaron Hughes made a hash of clearing a corner sent over by Griffiths.

Griffiths grabbed the third 12 minutes later, nodding in to inflict more pain on Hearts and the Edinburgh side's caretaker boss Jon Daly, who led the side following the sacking of Ian Cathro.

McGregor hit the fourth in the 73rd minute following a driving run from Sinclair, before a fierce strike from the right by Isma Goncalves beat Craig Gordon at his near post to hand Hearts a late consolation.

Leigh Griffiths scoring for Celtic against Hearts, today.