Celtic finally broke their Livingston hoodoo as they picked up their first win in six attempts in West Lothian with a composed performance against the Lions.
Daizen Maeda opened the scoring the visitors 17 minutes in after skipper Callum McGregor had missed a spot-kick moments earlier. The Japanese striker fired home from close range after Max Stryjek had produced a brilliant save to deny Carl Starfelt although Livi can feel aggrieved that the corner-kick that resulted in the opener shouldn't have been given.
Celtic predictably controlled much of the play but Livi almost levelled things up before the break when Ayo Obileye's header clattered off the bar.
The visitors would double their lead less than 30 seconds after the break when Nicky Devlin diverted a dangerous cross into his own net with James Forrest effectively putting the game to bed a few minutes later when he found the far corner after being played through by Jota.
Livi answered back immediately when Andrew Shinnie prodded the ball over the line but there was no sign of a Livi comeback as Ange Postecoglou's men opened up a three point lead at the top of the table.
Having picked the same starting line-up for four consecutive matches, Livi boss David Martindale made one change for this clash with top scorer Bruce Anderson making way from Shinnie who netted the winner the last time the two teams met in West Lothian.
And it was the hosts who had the game's first genuine chance as Joe Hart produced a fine save to deny Obileye after the centre-back got on the end of an Alan Forrest corner-kick at the back post seven minutes into the contest.
The game quickly descended into the predictable pattern of the visitors having plenty of the ball and they almost made that count on 15 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for an handball from Jack Fitzwater.
They passed up that opportunity as McGregor's effort clattered back off the post but they would get themselves in front two minutes later when a debatable corner-kick decision resulted in Maeda nodding home from close range after Stryjek had produced a tremendous diving save to thwart Starfelt.
The Hoops would continue to play some decent stuff in and around the Livi box without converting that into genuine chances with Tom Rogic and Anthony Ralston getting into decent positions without threatening to add to the scoring.
The Lions went agonisingly close to levelling things up as the first half ticked into injury-time as Obileye rose the highest from a Forrest free-kick but his fierce header crashed back off the crossbar.
Having had the chance to reset at the break, the last thing Martindale would have wanted is for his side to fall further behind almost instantly but that's precisely what happened. The Celts had an immediate overlap down their right with Ralston's dangerous cross being diverted into his own net by Devlin.
Brilliant goalkeeping from Stryjek denied Rogic from adding a third a few minutes later with the Polish stopper racing from his goal to thwart the Aussie.
They wouldn't have to wait too long to find that third goal, though, as Jota's defence-splitting pass on 54 minutes sent Forrest clear and he expertly fired across Stryjek and into the far corner.
This Livi side isn't one to roll over and accept defeat, however, and they gave themselves a lifeline two minutes later when Shinnie bundled the ball over the line from close range after Devlin's throw-in had been flicked on at the near post.
Martindale introduced Anderson on the hour mark but it was still the case that the visitors were the dominant side and they could have put the game firmly to bed on 68 minutes when a swift counter-attack saw Maeda presented with a glorious opportunity six yards out but Stryjek kept his side in the game with an instinctive save with his legs.
The keeper was at it again moments later to deny substitute Liel Abada as Ange Postecoglou's men charged forward looking for a fourth that wouldn't arrive.
Livingston: Stryjek; Devlin, Obileye, Fitzwater, Penrice; Pittman (Sibbald 75), Holt, Omeonga (Anderson 60); Nouble (Soto 70), Shinnie (Kelly 70), Forrest. Subs not used: Konovalov, Longridge, Montano, Boyes, Lewis.
Goal: Shinnie (56)
Celtic: Hart; Ralston, Starfelt, Carter-Vickers, Taylor; Bitton, McGregor (Hatate 83), Rogic (O'Riley 74); Forrest (Abada 74), Maeda (Giakoumakis 74), Jota. Subs not used: Bain, McCarthy, Ideguchi, Welsh, Juranovic.
Goals: Maeda (17), Devlin (46 og), Forrest (54)
