Detailed Celtic player ratings as Mooy and Maeda hammer Hibs

Joe Hart: The Celtic number one was picking the ball out of the net inside two minutes but he was thankfully saved by the assistant's flag after Chris Cadden had slotted home. He would have also held his breath when Josh Campbell whistled one just past the upright. He was scrambling across his line again when Paul Hanlon hit the post. Ironically he didn't actually have all that much to do but read a second-half situation well when Matt O'Riley put the defence under pressure in the second half with a slack pass. 7

Reo Hatate: "The Celtic get excited when they see you play," so say the words of the players club song and it is a small wonder. He slotted in seamlessly at right-back against St Johnstone and bagged an impressive brace and was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork. He saw a lot of the ball in the opening 45 and even though he was in the inverted full-back role he still acted and played like an extra midfielder and broke the lines on many occasions. 8

Cameron Carter-Vickers: There was confusion prior to kick-off that the American internationalist was just one booking away from serving a suspension but thankfully for the Hoops it turned out to be a false alarm. Recovered well after Hibs tried to hit the visitors with a fast and furious start. He is a colossus and alongside his partner, Starfelt strolled through the evening after that. 8

Carl Starfelt: "Cameron is a really good player and I’ve enjoyed playing with him since he came. I feel like we have good chemistry on and off the pitch. We see many situations the same way." Ain't that the truth? He denied a certain goal with a superb last-ditch clearance in the opening 45. The duo once again sailed through another tough domestic test with flying colours. 8

Greg Taylor: If there is a player in Scottish football who is more comfortable in his own skin and the role that he performs in the Celtic team then I've yet to see him. He got forward in support of Maeda at every opportunity and did not neglect his defensive chores either. He was replaced by Alexandro Bernabei when he was forced to leave the field injured to spark a major Glasgow derby doubt scare. 7

Callum McGregor: It took a while but it was no surprise when the captain exerted his influence that Celtic started to function and eventually took the lead. They never looked like they were going to relinquish it as the man with the armband began to dominate proceedings. He played a superb defence-splitting pass he played to Hatate at one stage. He really is a gem of a player and a real joy to watch at close quarters. 8

Matt O'Riley: He will be kicking himself that he still has not bagged his first competitive goal this season for the Hoops. However, this was not one of the normally reliable Denmark under-21 midfielder's best performances as his touch and distribution were erratic all evening by his exceptionally own high standards. 6

Aaron Mooy: Ange Postecoglou's compatriot rightfully kept the starting jersey in midfield after a fine outing in the 4-1 destruction of the Perth men on Christmas Eve. He rewarded his manager by confidently volleying Celtic ahead in 27 minutes after the ball broke kindly to him in the box. It was the Aussie's first career goal for the Hoops and just like buses he confidently stroked home a second from the penalty spot after the break. 8

Liel Abada: After a wonderful second-half performance at Pittodrie and a cracking man-of-the-match display against Livingston the Israeli was rather unfortunate to find himself rotated against the Saints. However, he was restored to first-team duty in the capital. He swung over a tempting cross that saw Maeds crack the woodwork with a close-range header. He drifted in and out of the play and didn't feature as prominently as in his last two appearances and copped a sore one from Ryan Porteous and curled a second-half effort well wide. He left the field to be replaced by James Forrest at 62 minutes. 5

Kyogo Furuhashi: Bring on goal number 15 for the campaign would have been the talismanic striker's cry ahead of this one. The Premiership's top goalscorer duly added to his tally on 64 minutes when he coolly and calmly stroked home the fourth after latching onto Hatate's pass. Four minutes later he made way for his Greek strike partner Giorgos Giakoumakis. 7

Daizen Maeda: He maybe doesn't get the credit that his wing play, link-up and defensive work deserve at times and he often can fly under the radar but the Japanese World Cup finals goalscorer knows how to put in a shift for his manager and his teammates. It was the winger's trickery and cross from the left that led to Mooy opening the scoring. He missed an absolute sitter from two yards out when his header somehow hit the crossbar from Abada's cross from the right but bent in an absolutely stunning thing of beauty to make it 2-0 moments later. 8

Substitutes

James Forrest (Liel Abada 62): The evergreen winger replaced Abada on 62 minutes to chalk up more game time. 4 

Alexandro Bernabei (Taylor 68): Replaced Taylor who left the field injured with a quarter of the game left. 3

Giorgos Giakoumakis (Kyogo 68): He entered the fray with 22 minutes left on the clock when the points were well and truly in the bag. 3

Jota (Maeda 84): He was absent due to sickness but was still given six minutes.

Rocco Vata (O'Riley 84): Great to see youngster Rocco Vata get some first-team game time and his father Rudi will be a proud man tonight.

Substitutes not used: Benjamin Siegrist, Moritz Jenz, Oliver Abildgaard, Josip Juranovic.