“It’s clear to anyone that Taylor has big value in a squad,” Chris Sutton

Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates with team mates after scoring to give Celtic a 1-0 lead. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 12 April 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

“Now let’s be clear here. I’m not rewriting history. I had said that Celtic needed an upgrade in the left-back position for the Champions League and I do not shy away from that. I felt, at times, Taylor was too vulnerable in the one-on-one situations in that environment.

“Certainly, Jeffrey Schlupp’s display against Bayern Munich when he policed Michael Olise superbly in Germany spoke to that extent because Taylor found it hard against him in the first leg.

‘Taylor is absolutely perfect for the way Rodgers wants to play’

“Kieran Tierney is that upgrade. He is capable of playing at the highest level and performing to a big standard against Europe’s best. But none of this means Taylor isn’t important. Quite the opposite, in fact. I watched him against Kilmarnock last weekend and it is clear to me that he is absolutely perfect for the way Rodgers wants to play.

“Taylor’s ability is invaluable”

“The way he drifts infield into that inverted position, flits around to create overloads in the middle and plays with intelligence is clear. Domestically, when teams are going man for man and packing their two banks of four, Taylor’s ability is invaluable.”

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers on the pitch at full-time. Final score Celtic 5 Kilmarnock 1. Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 12 April 2025. IMAGO photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

“I’ll be honest, I don’t see Tierney as being able to do that as effectively”

Chris Sutton continued: “I’ll be honest, I don’t see Tierney as being able to do that as effectively. He’s a better one-on-one defender, but plays more on the outside linking with wingers in channels in the way Alistair Johnston does on the right for Rodgers.

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