Hearts are on the rise while Celtic's season continues to unravel. Meanwhile, Rangers are beginning to find their form after a rocky start. Hearts have surged eight points ahead of the reigning champions following a crucial victory at Tynecastle Park, while Rangers secured a stylish home win. In the upcoming week, Hearts will visit St Mirren to maintain their unbeaten streak, Celtic will face Falkirk to avoid a third consecutive league defeat, and Rangers will aim for a victory against Hibs to re-enter the title race.

Derek McInnes is at the heart of Hearts' success, with his team exuding confidence and unity. After a challenging past, Hearts have won eight and drawn one of their nine matches, making them the first non-Old Firm team with a realistic shot at the title in 40 years. Thanks to their partnership with Jamestown Analytics, the club managed to sign 10 new players over the summer, including Claudio Braga and Alex Kiziridis. Lawrence Shankland, who chose to stay with the club, has already scored five league goals, while defender Craig Halkett has recovered from injuries and contributed with three goals himself.

On the other hand, Celtic find themselves in an unusual position, having lost two consecutive league matches for the first time in two years. Manager Brendan Rodgers is facing criticism for the lack of results despite having players like Callum McGregor and Arne Engels at his disposal. Injury woes and ineffective new signings are compounding their problems.

Under the guidance of Dani Röhl, Rangers have won their first home match of the season, with new signing Youssef Chermiti scoring his debut goal for the club. The manager has shown tactical flexibility, and now faces a crucial match against Hibernian, followed by a League Cup semi-final clash with Celtic.

Analysis: Hearts are emerging as serious title contenders with their impressive form, while Celtic and Rangers are in search of stability. The key questions are whether Rodgers can steer Celtic back to winning ways and if Röhl can maintain his successful run with Rangers.