Scottish Premier League: Can Hearts challenge the Old Firm for the title?

It is difficult to get away from the different atmosphere in the top two places in the Premier League before they go head-to-head for the first time this season on Sunday.

Hearts have already beaten Rangers at Ibrox, but if they defeat Celtic in front of their own fans and go eight points clear, the hype will reach new heights.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton said on the BBC’s Monday Night Club programme: “I think Hearts can win the title, that’s what I do.”

“Partly because of the way they recruited, partly because of the manager, partly because of their level, partly because of the way Celtic and Rangers play.

“I don’t see a way out for Rangers and Celtic until January. Hearts don’t have European football to deal with – there are too many things pointing in their favour.”

Hearts have scored more goals than any other team in the division (19), including a league-high seven from set-pieces.

They have the second most shots (46) on target in the league, behind only Hibernian, and have the best conversion rate (15.3%).

Defensively, only Celtic (5) have conceded fewer goals and only the defending champions (6.14) are better than Hearts’ expected goals against tally (6.72).

They rank better than the Rangers in almost every department except possession and passes completed.

“If you’re a Hearts fan who is playing Celtic next week, the expectation is that we can do it,” former Rangers striker Stephen Thompson told Sportsound.

“This shift in psychology is great. I don’t see it diminishing and I think they will stay there for a long period of time.”

Despite the rampant optimism surrounding Hearts, Michael Stewart is not yet convinced that his former club has got what it takes to pull off the improbable and snatch the title away from Glasgow for the first time in 40 years.

“Hearts had a great opportunity to deal a huge blow to Celtic,” he said. “The possibility of an eight-point gap after nine games is unbelievable.

“Of course they have a chance to win the title. Will they do that? I don’t think so realistically.

“What is clear is that they have a real chance of getting second place. I think they are favourites.”