Greg Taylor scored on his 100th appearance to help Celtic produce one of the comprehensive football scores of the weekend in the Scottish Premiership. After being set up by Taylor early in the game, Kyogo Furuhashi slammed in at Jack Hamilton’s near post and later shot through the legs of the replacement goalie. After a VAR review of Andrew Shinnie’s handball, Giorgos Giakoumakis was awarded a late penalty for the opposition, but he missed it. However, fellow substitute Jota did score Celtic’s third goal. Livingston stays in eighth place as the Hoops go back four points in front of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership standings.
The major pre-game squad news was the return of Jackson Longridge and James Penrice, along with the announcement that 28-year-old Hamilton, who was acquired from Morton in August, will make his Livingston debut. Ange Postecoglou made another lineup change for what is always a difficult match for Celtic. Josip Juranovic, Liel Abada, and Giakoumakis were benched in favor of Anthony Ralston, Aaron Mooy, and James Forrest.
From the beginning, Celtic controlled possession of the ball, but they didn’t take the lead until Livi striker Joel Nouble’s attempt from a Stephen Kelly free-kick was comfortably saved by Hoops goalkeeper Joe Hart. Taylor had plenty of time to slide in Furuhashi, who took a touch and smashed the ball high past Hamilton at his near post from eight yards out after taking a touch. In the 22nd minute, Furuhashi once again had a clear shot at goal, but he appeared to be offside and stretched under pressure from Livingston defender Jack Fitzwater, sending the ball over the crossbar.
The Parkhead team was now in perfect control when Hamilton clumsily mishandled a pass to Forrest on the hour mark, preventing the Scotland winger from scoring a third goal for his team. Before Sead Haksabanovic, Reo Hatate, and Furuhashi were replaced by Jota, Oliver Abildgaard, and Giakoumakis, Matt O’Riley, Forrest, and David Turnbull were replaced.
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