Celtic Player Ratings; Two Hoops Stars Score Nine

Usually a tricky venue for Celtic in recent times, the Hoops left Easter Road on Wednesday evening with all three points. 

Aaron Mooy, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo were on the scoresheet for the visitors in a rampaging 4-0 victory which kept them nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. 

Here’s how the players rated. 

Joe Hart – 6/10

It is becoming a running theme, yet once more, the Englishman had next to nothing to do between the sticks this evening. Hart did keep his first clean sheet in three, a feat he would be more than happy to achieve at Ibrox on Monday. 

Reo Hatate – 7/10

Filling in at right back once more, Reo Hatate was more than sufficient. The Japanese dealt with Elie Youan’s threat amicably at times, and going forward, the 25-year-old also contributed. Hatate was intelligent on the ball, and it was his well-threaded pass which set up Kyogo for Celtic’s fourth. One wonders whether or not Hatate will get the nod at right back at Ibrox now after being more than ample there in the past two games. 

Cameron Carter-Vickers – 7/10

The American was steady at centre-back throughout the match. Carter-Vickers was ample when building play up from the back yet remained well-founded when any attacking threat was posed. 

Carl Starfelt – 8/10

Carl Starfelt has been one of Celtic’s foremost performers since the return of action, and the Swede kept that run going at Easter Road. The 27-year-old made several clearances from dangerous balls into the Celtic box and was immaculate in his passing. Moreover, it was he who played the ball to Daizen Maeda before the Japanese netted with a prodigious solo effort. 

Greg Taylor – 7/10

Taylor was passable in his performance at left back and also helped his side going forward, in particular when he played a sublime ball in behind the Hibs defence for Maeda to latch on to, eventually leading to Celtic’s penalty. The 25-year-old, though, did have to be withdrawn with just under 20 to go through injury. The extent of said knock is yet unknown however, if Taylor is not available for Ibrox, one wonders who will get the nod at left-back for Celtic. 

Callum McGregor – 7/10

The Celtic captain was consistent as ever this evening. Callum McGregor rarely misplaced a pass at the base of the Hoops’ midfield and continually kept play ticking over. What the 29 to Ange Postecoglou’s side is hugely noticeable when he is not playing. 

Aaron Mooy – 9/10

The Australian international was a leading performer in the Celtic side on Wednesday evening. Aaron Mooy played some marvellous passes of several ranges yet was also able to open his Celtic account as he bagged a brace. In the 28th minute, Mooy opened the scoring with a thorough, first-time effort from close range, which was too powerful for two Hibs defenders and David Marshall. Then just before the hour mark, the 32-year-old stepped up and coolly slotted into the bottom left corner from the spot, sending Marshall the wrong way in the process. This was the goal that practically put the game to bed, and it was a match in which Aaron Mooy was excellent, putting in what was his greatest display in a Celtic shirt to date. 

Matt O’Riley – 6/10

Matt O’Riley had a rather muted evening despite Celtic going on a rampage. The Dane didn’t seem to get involved in the match a lot, although he admittedly did force a virtuous low save out of David Marshall moments before coming off. 

Liel Abada – 6/10

Starting on the right wing, Liel Abada provided a constant out ball for Celtic this evening. The Israeli got in behind the Hibs defence on a few occasions yet couldn’t muster any attacking contributions of note. 

Daizen Maeda – 9/10

The Japanese had one of his foremost Celtic performances this evening. On the left wing, Daizen Maeda was constantly direct and a willing runner for his side. He played a part in three of his team’s four goals. To set up Aaron Mooy, the Japanese got to the bye line and cut back across with the goal Maeda himself scored being a thing of sheer beauty. Picking the ball up near the halfway line, the 25-year-old left Kevin Nisbet on his backside before driving towards the goal. Maeda then cut inside on his man and found the far corner utmost poise and finesse from outside the box. This goal will assuredly be replayed over and over again in the coming weeks. In the second half, the Japanese did look to get himself on the scoresheet again, yet he ended up helping his side to win a penalty, latching on to a wonderful Greg Taylor ball whilst doing so. Going forward, Maeda will undoubtedly start on Monday at Ibrox after a standout display tonight. 

Kyogo – 8/10 

Other than his goal, it is fair to say Kyogo was rather quiet this evening. Nonetheless, the Japanese proved his class when he latched on to Reo Hatate’s wonderful through ball. Kyogo took a touch to control, another to cut inside on Rocky Bushiri and a third to calmly slot home past David Marshall. The 27-year-old now has 14 league goals in 17 games, making him the Scottish Premiership’s top scorer. 

Substitutes 

Ange Postecoglou made full use of all five of his available substitutes this evening. 

James Forrest came on for Liel Abada with just under half an hour to go and was fairly lively and rather unfortunate not to net right on full time as his effort after a well-worked move was blocked off the line. 

Then on the 68th minute, Alexandro Bernabei and Giorgos Giakoumakis replaced Greg Taylor and Kyogo, respectively. The Argentinian left-back was ever-willing to get forward and looked dangerous in the final third meanwhile, Giakoumakis didn’t contribute anything of note and appeared a rather frustrated figure. 

Going into the closing stages, Postecoglou made his final two alterations of the evening as Daizen Maeda and Matt O’Riley made way for Jota and Rocco Vata. The former Benfica man had a few shots from range yet couldn’t add to his current tally of five league goals for the season meanwhile, Vata became the ninth youngest player in Celtic’s history. Son of Rudi, the 17-year-old is one of the most highly-rated talents at Celtic and undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him. 

After earning three points in Leith, Celtic can now put full focus on Monday’s Glasgow derby. 

So far this season, it is arguably the Hoops’ biggest game and should the champions come away from Ibrox with all three points, they would go a significant 12 clear the top of the table, a lead which is hard to see them losing.