Livingston 0-3 Celtic: Champions return to high of Scottish Premiership

Celtic returned to high spot within the Scottish Premiership after a robust second-half displaying overpowered cussed Livingston.

Matt O’Riley added a 3rd late on, his tame shot eluding George.

The defending champions lead Rangers by some extent once more having performed a recreation extra, with the Outdated Agency rivals prepared to satisfy at Ibrox subsequent Sunday.

Backside membership Livingston stay 10 factors adrift of Ross County with seven video games to go.

Reo Hatate was making simply his fifth league begin of the season following a sequence of accidents and the Japan midfielder curled a strike huge from 20 yards throughout a colorless first half.

Regardless of having 76% possession, the guests’ first shot on course got here in stoppage time earlier than the interval, with George at full stretch to push away a pointy effort from Kyogo Furuhashi.

The striker had earlier been the topic of a quick VAR test for a potential penalty when Nicky Devlin appeared to dunt his heel with a problem from behind.

The anxiousness within the three stands containing Celtic followers lifted 4 minutes into the second half when Hatate discovered room to check George from shut vary and the rebound struck Brandon on the chest earlier than trundling over the road.

George then needed to look vigorous to maintain out a rising strike from Nicolas Kuhn and made an excellent diving cease to thwart Kyogo once more.

Bernardo changed the spectacular Hatate and wasted no time in making an impression, driving ahead to work a one-two with O’Riley earlier than drilling the ball low into the nook of the online from close to the sting of the field.

The one-way visitors continued and O’Riley accomplished the scoring along with his twelfth aim of the season when George did not cease a weak shot.

Participant of the match – Reo Hatate (Celtic)

Hatate catches the attention in Celtic canter – evaluation

Substitutes Adam Idah, James Forrest and Daniel Kelly all got here near including to Celtic’s tally within the closing moments as their aim distinction strikes to 1 higher than Rangers.

Serving a suspension within the stand, supervisor Brendan Rodgers can have seen his workforce play higher however can be glad with the best way they remained affected person to interrupt down opponents set as much as defend en masse.

Cameron Carter-Vickers lasted the complete recreation after his newest harm setback, though the centre-half had little or no to do.

Hatate was rather more conspicuous throughout his 63 minutes of motion. His contact, composure and power have been missed and he may very well be a key participant over the run-in.

Livingston have solely scored 9 objectives at dwelling in 15 league video games and at no stage threatened so as to add to that meagre complete.

Sure, Tete Yengi put himself about however the lone centre ahead didn’t get a sniff of an opportunity within the penalty field.

Supervisor David Martindale arrange with 4 central defenders and 5 midfielders grafting onerous to subdue Celtic, however the plan went up in smoke the second the unfortunate Brandon knocked the ball into his personal web.

What subsequent?

Livingston host Aberdeen subsequent Saturday (15:00 BST), whereas on Sunday Celtic make the brief journey throughout Glasgow to tackle title rivals Rangers (12:00).