Celtic travelled to Livingston on Sunday afternoon in search of yet three more points in the Scottish Premiership. Despite a traditional Livi low block and defensive performance, the Hoops were triumphant.
Goals from Kyogo, Greg Taylor and the returning Jota was enough for Ange Postecoglou and his men to go four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Here’s how the players rated.
Joe Hart – 6/10
The Englishman had next to nothing to do all game with Livi having only two shots on target throughout. Nevertheless, Hart helped himself to what was his sixth league clean sheet of the season.
Anthony Ralston – 7/10
Ever present down the right, Anthony Ralston started for the fourth time in a row in the league for Celtic. The 23 year old was always willing to support his teammates in attack whilst being more than sufficient at the back.
Cameron Carter-Vickers – 6/10
The centre half captained Celtic once more this afternoon and adequate. The presence of Joel Nouble undoubtedly caused Carter-Vickers issues at times however the American dealt with the threat posed by the Englishman in the end.
Moritz Jenz – 7/10
Moritz Jenz was a standout on Tuesday evening against Shakhtar Donetsk and somewhat carried that form into this match. The German was calm on the ball in build up and was there to sweep up any opposition threats posed.
Greg Taylor – 9/10
Preeminent at left back, Greg Taylor followed up his goal at Tynecastle last weekend with yet another memorable strike. The Scot played an intricate pass into the feet of Kyogo for the Japanese’s opener and when the ball fell to him just outside the box 53 minutes again, Taylor unleashed an absolute pile-driver through the legs of Jack Hamilton and into the back of the net. Arguably, the 24 year old has been one of Celtic’s foremost players thus far in 2022/23 and the transformation he’s gone under in the past year or so has been quite something.
Matt O’Riley – 7/10
The Dane played the deepest in Celtic’s midfield today and had a passable performance. O’Riley constantly looked for a forward pass and latched on to numerous loose balls in midfield.
Reo Hatate – 6/10
Reo Hatate was sharp in midfield, making some quick, forward thinking passes. The Japanese wasn’t a standout but didn’t do much wrong.
Aaron Mooy – 7/10
You rarely ever see Aaron Mooy give the ball away for Celtic and this was the case once more today as the Australian was sufficient in midfield. Mooy is one of those players who keeps it consistent week by week and today, the 32 year old was unfortunate not to net as his left footed effort whistled wide of the post in the first half.
James Forrest – 6/10
The veteran winger made his third league start in a row in today’s game but couldn’t follow up on the four goals he’s netted in his last two. Nonetheless, Forrest was a reliable attacking outlet down the right before being replaced by Liel Abada on the 67th minute.
Sead Haksabanovic – 6/10
Starting on the left, Sead Haksabanovic’s search for his first Celtic goal went on this afternoon. The Montenegrin was lively on the left although he did misplace some passes going forward.
Kyogo – 8/10
Kyogo got his first goal in just over ten days this afternoon as he broke the deadlock nine minutes in with a thunderous finish. Controlling amply from Greg Taylor’s through ball, Kyogo fired ruthlessly with his weaker left foot into the roof of the net to put his side on track for their fifth league win in a row.
Substitutes
Liel Abada and David Turnbull came on for James Forrest and Matt O’Riley respectively 67 minutes in. The former was vivacious on the right and ever-willing to run at his man with Turnbull putting it on a plate for Jota after darting in behind the Livi defence.
The aforementioned Portuguese came on alongside Giorgos Giakoumakis and Oliver Abildgaard with ten to go and it was Jota who bagged the Hoops’ third of the afternoon, arriving in the box to finish first time from Turnbull’s cross.
Abildgaard went rather unnoticed in the engine room meanwhile Giorgos Giakoumakis failed to hit the back of the net from the spot, similarly to when Celtic faced David Martindale’s side a year ago today.
Celtic seem to have now got over their Tony Macaroni Arena hoodoo as they made it two wins in two in West Lothian.
Three points, three goals and a clean sheet made for a solid days’ work for the Hoops who will now travel to the Santiago Bernabeu midweek.
