JOE HART 6
The veteran keeper didn’t have all that much to do in his last Old Firm clash at Celtic Park, with his defenders not helping him out at the Rangers goal. Tidy enough with his feet despite inciting one or two gasps from the nervy home support late on.
ALISTAIR JOHNSTON 6
Great battle with Fabio Silva that he didn’t always come out on the right side of. Fought his corner well though, and made a few darting runs the other way that the winger didn’t track. Gave his lot.
CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS 7
Lost Dessers for the Rangers goal, but the centre-back showed overall just how important he is to this side with his presence, particularly in the closing stages as Rangers threw the kitchen sink at it.
Won headers, organised his teammates, and showed he could pick out a pass as his brilliant pick out of Maeda set him on his way to tee up Celtic’s second.
LIAM SCALES 6
Defender saw plenty of the ball, but looked panicked on it in the early stages and gave up possession a few times. Not helped by runs of teammates ahead of him, mind.
Made some important interceptions and clearances late on.
GREG TAYLOR 6
Ran himself into the ground and was flagging long before the end because of it. Was tidy enough on the ball though, helped stem the threat of Tavernier and Sterling, and tried to support Maeda whenever he could.
CALLUM MCGREGOR 8
Maybe one day a Rangers manager will realise that giving the Celtic captain the freedom of the midfield isn’t the smartest move.
Started to run the game from about the 20 minute mark, running off the back of the Rangers midfield with ease and linking with O’Riley to cause the visitors all sorts of problems.
One such run set up Celtic’s opener, and he might have had a couple of goals himself.
MATT O’RILEY 8
But for the penalty miss might just have reached a 9, but the midfielder can be proud of another brilliant contribution.
Like McGregor, given far too much space by his opposition, and he made full use of it. He had put a free-kick and a shot from the edge of the area just wide before he got his range spot on to get the opening goal with a fine low finish.
Wasn’t helped by a long VAR check before hitting his spot kick, but his casual effort that was saved by Butland was the only blemish on a polished performance.
REO HATATE 6
Hatate was surprisingly quiet given the hay being made by his two midfield partners, and when he did get on the ball, he wasn’t quite at his incisive best. Didn’t affect the game as he would have liked.
JAMES FORREST 7
The renaissance continues for Forrest as he put on another very decent display on the Celtic right, giving Barisic problems from the off and using the ball well. Almost caused Souttar to score an OG in the opening seconds and was consistently impressive until he ran out of steam midway through second half.
DAIZEN MAEDA 7
Great start against Tavernier as his energy caused a headache for the Rangers skipper as usual. Came up with a great touch and cross as Lundstram poked home Celtic’s second, then shouldn’t have been offside when he cracked home late on, but was. Still, brings so much to the party.
KYOGO FURUHASHI 6
Quiet until the half hour when he pounced upon a Johnston pass and brought the first meaningful save out of Jack Butland. Full of usual boundless energy, but couldn’t get another sniff of goal before being replaced by Adam Idah.
SUBSTITUTES
ADAM IDAH 4
How the big man didn’t score a clincher for Celtic, only he knows, squandering a few golden chances on the break late on.
NICOLAS KUHN 4
Lively enough cutting inside in place of Forrest.
ANTHONY RALSTON 4
Big defender helped repel late Rangers surge.
TOMOKI IWATA 3
Looked a bit nervous, slashing at the ball a couple of times, but got away from it.
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