Celtic were defeated by two goals to one at Rugby Park on a wet Sunday afternoon. The Hoops were particularly poor in the second half as they eventually dropped three crucial league points.
At the heart of the defence, central defender Nat Phillips put in a performance that left many supporters concerned. The Liverpool loanee replaced Cameron Carter-Vickers in the lineup and didn’t meet the standard.
What was the most intriguing part of the result, though, was that once more, Celtic lost without having Carter-Vickers in the team. The Hoops have lost five domestic matches since the beginning of last season and in each of them, the American defender has not been in the squad.
This is a stark reminder of the champions’ reliance on Carter-Vickers, and how crucial he is to the team. The stability the 25-year-old brings to the backline is unmatched.
Thankfully for Brendan Rodgers and co., the treble-winner’s scan was clear and he will return soon. Carter-Vickers was undoubtedly missed on Sunday, and what he brings to the Celtc team is hugely noticeable when absent.
