Are Christmas toppers Hearts the Premiership favourites?

History makers

It's been over 40 years since a team other than Celtic or Rangers last won the top-flight in Scottish football, that was Aberdeen under Alex Ferguson when they finished top of the 1983/84 season.

This season, for the first time since 1993 a side other than Celtic or Rangers, have topped the Scottish Premiership on Christmas Day. Last time it happened was Willie Miller's Aberdeen who would go on to finish in second place with Rangers taking the title come May 1994. Hearts have re-written the history books and have topped the table at Christmas for the first time themselves since 1991; Again, like the Dons, the Jambos would go on to finish in second place in 1992.

pic.twitter.com/0uX8R2vnam

— Hearts Standard (@HeartsStandard_) December 17, 2025

The Tony Bloom era begins

In August, just days before the first game of the season against Aberdeen, new Hearts investor Tony Bloom promised the loyal Jambo supporters that the domination of Scottish football from Celtic and Rangers was coming to an end, and that he himself would be very disappointed if Hearts didn’t win at least one league title within the next 10 years. A new vision in Scottish football from one of modern football's best operators after success stories with Brighton, who have been an established Premier League club following their promotion in 2017 and are now regularly pushing for European football whilst developing talents and selling on for massive fees. Bloom's success story in Belgium with Union Saint-Gilloise was even more impressive; when Bloom completed his takeover in 2018, the club were in the Belgian second tier, since their promotion to the top tier in 2021, they finished top of the regular season league table, a first for newly promoted side. The high point of his investment came in the summer of 2025, where Les Unionistes finally won the Belgian Pro League title.

In the summer at Tynecastle came a change of management; Hearts appointed Derek McInnes from Kilmarnock as their new manager, one of Scottish football's most experienced figureheads following spells at St. Johnstone, Aberdeen along with his three-and-a-half-year spell at Rugby Park. In the summer their use of Jamestown Analytics became apparent, signing players such as Cláudio Braga, who was playing in the second tier of Norwegian football, Alexandros Kyziridis, a free agent following his spell at Zemplin Michalovce in the Slovakian topflight, and Tomas Magnusson from Icelandic side Valur. Another key signing was Oxford United's Stuart Findlay, a one-time capped Scotland centre back, who played for McInnes at Kilmarnock.

The most impressive signing however would perhaps be a player who was already on the books at Tynecastle; Lawrence Shankland, the Hearts captain, was out of contract and had a host of clubs interested in his signature. However, much to the Tynecastle faithful’s delight, Shankland decided to turn down a chance to move on from Hearts and instead signed a new three-year contract at the club.

He's back.

Lawrence Shankland has agreed a three-year contract with Heart of Midlothian

🤝 @loveholidays // #loveholidays

— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) July 3, 2025

Hearts on fire

Hearts started the season on fire; in the Premier Sports Cup group stage they won all four group games, scoring four goals in each fixture. In the Premiership they started with back-to-back league wins against Aberdeen and Dundee United but had their first setback when getting knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup on penalties to the hands of St. Mirren. It looked like their fortunes had turned in August at Tynecastle against Motherwell, the Steelmen were 3-0 up and cruising their way to victory but amazingly Hearts turned the game around scoring three goals in the final 25 minutes to get a valuable point.

They then went on a six-game winning run which included defeating Rangers at Ibrox for the first time since 2014, winning the first Edinburgh derby of the season with a Craig Halkett stoppage time winner. However, the highlight was undoubtedly defeating Celtic 3-1 at Tynecastle, extending their lead at the top of the Premiership and also marking the end of the second Brendan Rodgers' era at Parkhead.

🗣️ “There’s something special going on at Tynecastle, and it could get even better!”

Hearts go ᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛꜱ clear at the top after a 3-1 win over champions Celtic 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NYdZsNfI2i

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 26, 2025

Following this winning run the Jambos started to falter, only winning once in their next six games, but still they only managed one defeat which came against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Hearts were still top but knew a defeat to Celtic at Parkhead would mean they fall to second place, McInnes' side were pushed by came out 2-1 winners which has now sparked a new winning run of three games, including defeating Rangers at Tynecastle quite comfortably.

On top everywhere

Hearts are coming out top in all the stats; top on goals per match, least goals conceded per match and currently have the Premiership's top scorer in Lawrence Shankland and the second top in Cláudio Braga with the likes of Alexandros Kiziridis also impressing as the most creative player in the Premiership. They are currently the top scorers in the Premiership and have the joint best defensive record. The signing of Alexander Schwolow has also helped, the goalkeeper has currently got the highest save percentage out of any keeper in the Premiership.

All the signs are currently pointing in the right direction and with Jamestown looking to help boost the Jambos squad in the January transfer; St. Johnstone's Josh McPake, who has been in impressive form for the Scottish Championship leaders, along with RKC Waalwijk's right back Jordi Altena are both to be expected to arrive to the club with more coming in to help boost the title fight.

So, are they the favourites?

Right now, can we say that Hearts are the favourites to win the league title? You would have to say yes. They are top of the table and have all the right stats to prove they deserve it, having won all four of their fixtures against the Old Firm sides. You would also think that Celtic will spend in January to improve the quality within their team and make a boost for their Europa League campaign and increase pressure on Hearts.

However, Tony Bloom's promise looks like it could have legs. Aberdeen's title push from last season failed heading into December, Hearts' is only getting better and with the experience of Derek McInnes at the helm.

10 years to win the Scottish Premiership title was the aim. They couldn't do it in one year, could they?

Watch the full-time scenes at Tynecastle after Hearts defeated Rangers ♥️ pic.twitter.com/UlzPkprCfZ

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 21, 2025