Detailed Celtic player ratings as Liel Abada steals show

Anthony Ralston: "We play our football and focus on ourselves," were the words of the Scotland right-back ahead of the Lions contest. He screamed a magnificent drive that rose too high as the hosts pressed for the breakthrough. He had Ivan Konovalov scrambling to save his drive from 20 yards. He produced another piece of outstanding vision with a brilliant weight of pass that released Liel Abada who fed Kyogo Furuhashi to make it 2-0. He left the field injured at 55 minutes to be replaced by Alexandro Bernabei. 7 

Cameron Carter-Vickers: The American copped a sore one when he was caught in the arm by Bruce Anderson's flailing boot but was cool, calm and composed at all times and strolled through another 90 minutes. He is a wise head on young shoulders and kept his concentration to head away from a dangerous James Penrice cross. The concession of the goal will have annoyed the centre-back as Livingston had offered nothing in attack up until that point. 8

Carl Starfelt: It was as if the super Swede had never been away as he fitted back in seamlessly at the heart of the Hoops defence against the Dons. He failed to control one ball in the first half here but that blip apart he was absolutely solid once again as Livi barely got a sniff. Like the rest of the defence, he would have been left scratching his head when the visitors did score with a rare foray up the park. 8

Greg Taylor: Cracked in an absolute beauty the last time the two sides met at Almondvale in the 3-0 Premiership win back in October. The Scotland international put in an early robust challenge on Montano. He really has become a mainstay in the Celtic team and has grown into the inverted full-back role. He was unlucky not to put the shackles and block on Devlin in a rare Livi surge forward that saw them net an ill-deserved goal. Coped well after being moved to right-back when Ralston went off. 7

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Callum McGregor: Celtic's match-winner against Aberdeen popped up with the goods late on as the midfield metronome marked his comeback with a bang. He is very simply the fulcrum of this side and linked play from the middle to front with great aplomb. How they missed him when he was out of the team. No Livi player got near him - although he was frustratingly obstructed by the referee at one stage. 8

Matt O'Riley: O'Riley is a talented and gifted footballer and displayed some neat and intricate passing in the opening exchanges and hit a powder puff effort at goal which Konovalov easily dealt with. He also saw another side-foot shot snuffed out by the Livi defence as the Denmark under-21 midfielder still awaits his first competitive goal of the season. 7

Reo Hatate: The Japanese midfielder fizzed two excellent balls across the face of the goalmouth during the match but there were no takers either time. He also drove a cracking effort inches which scraped the post and fell just wide of the target inside the opening quarter of an hour. He was denied by a goal from a diving save from close range by Konovalov as Celtic looked to increase their lead. He was also denied a penalty when Devlin seemed to handle his goalbound shot. 6

Liel Abada: Ange Postecoglou rewarded the Israeli wide man with a starting berth against the Lions after an impressive display off the bench against the Reds at Pittodrie. He constantly offered himself as an option as both he and Ralston carved the Livi defence open for fun. It was his cross that smacked off the luckless Ayo Obileye and into the net for the opening goal. He also played Kyogo clean through with a one-on-one but the forward failed to supply the finish. However, he did turn provider in the 45th minute for the Japanese talisman. He was denied a goal when he spun in the box to ram home his 10th goal of the season which his overall play would have merited. 9

Kyogo Furuhashi: Despite missing a sitter against Aberdeen he was given another vote of confidence by his manager as he got the nod to start again over strike partner Giorgos Giakoumakis. He also received a ringing endorsement pre-match by former teammate Andres Iniesta so he didn't need to be boosted. Slashed a wild effort after a bout of pinball in the box early on. The attacker missed a one-on-one with Konovalov when he shot straight at him. His moment duly arrived in first-half injury time when he fired high into the net at the near post after great work from Ralston and Abada to claim number 12 for the season. 7 

Jota: The Portuguese winger certainly looked as if he had the beating of Nicky Devlin whenever he took him on down the flank. He curled an effort into the body of Konovalov just before the break. He seemed content to flit in and out of proceedings before being replaced by Sead Haksabanovic at 64 minutes. My own personal jury is still out on the moustache as well. 6

Substitutes

Alexandro Bernabei (Ralston 55): The Argentine replaced the injured Ralston after 55 minutes and was given a rare first-team chance to show what he could do and picked up a terrible booking after a ridiculous Holt dive. 4

David Turnbull (Hatate 64): Replaced Hatate with just over a quarter of the game to go and he curled a 20-yard effort well wide of the target on 69 minutes. 4

Sead Haksabanovic (Jota 64): Came on for Jota with just over 25 minutes to go to see if he could inject some fresh impetus and legs into the attack and he skied a late chance over the bar in injury time. 4

Aaron Mooy (O'Riley 82): Given an eight-minute cameo for O'Riley after his World Cup finals exertions.

Giorgos Giakoumakis (Furuhashi 82): Handed eight minutes to try and provide a third goal and some breathing space in the closing stages.

Substitutes not used: Benjamin Siegrist, Moritz Jenz, Daizen Maeda, James Forrest.