Hearts returned to Celtic Park looking for revenge but were taught a lesson by the side who snatched the Scottish Premiership title from their grasp.

After last season's final-day showdown, the Hoops reminded Wouter Vrancken's team what it takes to win the league trophy with a "devastating" performance.

It is a result that moves Martin O'Neill's men four points clear at the top of the table with Hearts left in third, a further four points behind Rangers.

Encouraged by their second-half showing in Thursday's 3-1 Europa League defeat to Benfica, the manager started with the front three that finished that game in Lisbon.

And all three - Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran - scored in the 7-1 demolition of their title rivals.

Celtic were outstanding at times but Hearts played a part in their own humiliation.

"That first half was devastating. Hearts, I cannot for the life of me work out what they were trying to do there," said Kris Boyd.

"To come here and show the lack of respect to Celtic that Hearts have done today would be a wake-up call for me.

"You look at last year, Derek McInnes [then Hearts boss] got criticised for it from a lot of people in terms of just grinding out results. It may be an ugly watch but they were still there.

"I don't see any of that Hearts team that's going in the Celtic team. I don't see any of it, so what would make you think you're better than them?"

"That there was an annihilation. I mean, I have never seen anything like it in my life."

Hearts had only conceded eight goals in the Premiership this season, before shipping seven in 90 minutes at Celtic Park.

"I couldn't work out if Hearts were really poor or Celtic were really good. It's probably a combination of the two of them," said former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan.

"The amount of times that Hearts gave the ball away in really dangerous areas for Celtic, and there would only be two passes and it was a goal, and they continually did it throughout the whole game.

"There is levels to football. Hearts obviously last season went close and this season they want to challenge it and be up there. But you also have to understand the game.

"They're 5-1 down at half-time and then whatever the manager said to them went completely out of their ears because then they conceded another goal four minutes into the second half.

"It was a really poor performance from Hearts, which you haven't said that often in the last 12 months. At the same time, you've got to give Celtic a lot of credit."

Hearts 'still big challengers'

It was all too easy for Celtic on Sunday but that did not mean Martin O'Neill was ruling Hearts out of this season's title race after just nine games.

"It's easy to be magnanimous after the game but they're still big challengers," the 74-year-old told Sky Sports.

"Everything clicked for us today. We might have had two more chances but everything that we hit went into the net.

"It was nice to win today because I was concerned after Thursday night, wondering how we feel, can we get ourselves together for it?

"You ask any manager or any team, any player, they would say the same thing. Once you've put a couple of goals in front, then confidence just is so strong.

"The team played with a lot of confidence but you have to gain that confidence in the first place. And that's what we did today."

'Sorry' Vrancken wants quick response

While Celtic welcome Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday night, Hearts are away to Trabzonspor in the Conference League.

"When you're not on top level in the top games, then it's really difficult to get a result," Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken told Sky Sports.

"It's good to analyse it, also the good things. Knowing where we come from and not losing the grip and confidence in what you're doing. We just have to do things better than today.

"It was not good enough because of the individual mistakes and the two set plays which killed us at the beginning of the game.

"We made mistakes that we wouldn't normally make. That's it. I'm sorry."