Ton-up Greg Taylor celebrated his 100th game for Celtic with a man of the match display topped off by a second half wondergoal as the champions restored their four point cushion at the top of the table.
The left back stepped onto a loose ball 25 yards out and unleashed a thunderbolt that threatened to blow Livingston keeper Jack Hamilton into the net on its way through.
It was a sensational strike in what was a straight-forward 3-0 victory for Ange Postecoglou’s side in West Lothian. Taylor had earlier set up Kyogo Furuhashi to open the scoring and prove he too still possesses a killer touch.
The Japanese ace thundered high past Hamilton after just nine minutes to make it two goals in his last three outings and nine for the season after a dry spell had seen him net only once in eight games before that.
Giorgos Giakoumakis climbed off the bench to miss a late penalty - incredibly exactly a year on from doing the same against the same opposition in a goalless Parkhead draw.
But it counted for little this time as the Hoops eased to victory with fellow sub Jota marking his return from injury by adding a late third. Celtic are now a colossal 10 points better off than at the same stage last season.
Home hitman Joel Nouble actually had the first sight of goal when Stephen Kelly’s low free kick found him at the front post but the big striker - who netted at Ibrox last week - failed to complete an eight-day Old Firm double as he flicked straight into Joe Hart’s arms.
And the Lions were made to pay less than a minute later as Celtic went ahead through Kyogo. The Japan international spun off Ayo Obileye and onto Taylor’s perfectly weighted through ball before smashing a left footed effort high past Livi debutant Jack Hamilton from just inside the box.
It was more like the diminutive striker who had fluffed his lines when one on one with Anatoliy Trubin on Tuesday. He was through again after 22 minutes only for a last ditch Jack Fitzwater challenge to deny him from eight yards.
Livi had packed their midfield in a bid to smother the Hoops’ build-up but O’Riley was managing to find feet and teed up Forrest whose effort from the edge of the area slipped just wide. Aaron Mooy then drove just wide from 20 yards after a neat ball infield from Taylor.
On a quiet afternoon for Willie Collum the referee’s biggest slip arrived when he was dumped on his backside in an accidental first half collision with Mooy which predictably brought both sets of supporters together in a chorus of cheers.
Taylor was enjoying a fine game to mark his century appearance and a dipping effort shortly after the break had to be batted away by Hamilton. It was a warning of what was about to come.
Nouble served a reminder that Livi weren’t out of the match when he charged forward after Jason Holt stole possession from Moritz Jenz but Nouble’s cut back was wasted by Holt.
And just like in the first half Celtic took advantage when that man Taylor rifled home his sensational effort after 53 minutes. The left back stepped up after a Mooy effort had been blocked by Jackson Longridge and Taylor’s rocket seemed to gather pace as it flew past Nicky Devlin and right through a stunned Hamilton in goal.
The keeper was almost left red faced when he made a hash of a clearance after an hour only for Devlin to get back and help thwart James Forrest.
VAR finally got involved with eight minutes remaining when Muir suggested Collum goes to the monitor to check after Jota’s cross came off the arm of Andrew Shinnie. Harsh or not it didn’t matter as Giakoumakis’ effort came back off the base of the post. Jota put the polish on the victory when he tapped home fellow sub David Turnbull’s cut back. Here's three talking points from west Lothian.
Ton up Taylor’s thunderbolt
Greg Taylor made his 100th appearance in the Hoops and celebrated with an absolute showstopper of a goal, his second in three games, to put the game to bed. You couldn’t wish to catch a strike any sweeter than the left-footed piledriver that flew past a pack of players and right through Jack Hamilton before the keeper could even set himself. Taylor has become something of a mainstay under Ange Postecoglou and the biggest surprise is that the Scotland international is still only 24. Taylor surged forward at every opportunity and had a massive part to play in the opening goal too as he set up Kyogo with a pinpoint pass. He was star man in a dominant Celtic performance. The Hoops are now 10 points better off than they were at the same stage last season and looking pretty much close to top gear. Matt O’Riley remained in his deep-lying Callum McGregor position and pulled the strings alongside Reo Hatate while Aaron Mooy enjoyed an advanced role and was unlucky with a couple of digs from the edge of the box. Now it’s off to the Bernabeu as Postecoglou’s men go hunting a statement result against Real Madrid.
All systems Kyogo
The Japanese star was preferred up top to Giorgos Giakoumakis and responded with a brilliant striker’s goal. His movement was too sharp for Obileye and his touch and finish was perfection giving Hamilton in the Livi goal no chance. Postecoglou has a welcome headache in which of his two main frontmen to start - or indeed if he should play both as he did in a rare pairing against Shakhtar through the week. The Celtic boss will argue both are doing the business in any system he chooses and Furuhashi certainly looked like a player brimming with belief against Livi. Typically restless across the front line he also proved the difference when it mattered in the box with his ninth goal of the season. Giakoumakis’ late penalty miss understandably frustrated the Greek substitute and it’ll be interesting now to see if Postecoglou chooses to go with Kyogo in Madrid on Wednesday.
Livi to fight another day
David Martindale’s men were a minute or two from a stunning victory at Ibrox last week but never looked like troubling Celtic on this occasion. The game plan against the big boys is built on digging in and frustrating which made the early opener at Ibrox last week ideal. But to lose the first goal after just nine minutes posed a question and despite Joel Nouble doing his best to unsettle the Hoops defence, they failed to produce many clear cut openings. Celtic were tidy on the ball making Livi’s job one of containment.
However, the lazy assertions of Livi being a route one force are thankfully being consigned to the bin and in Stephen Kelly, Jason Holt and Scott Pittman they’ve got plenty of playmakers of their own in the middle of the park.
A direct approach might actually have caused the Hoops more of a problem here but Martindale is working his usual wonders in West Lothian which will ensure they continue to live with the rest of the sides outwith the Old Firm. A top six spot really should be the target even if the manager won’t admit it.
