Celtic player ratings vs Rangers: Daizen Maeda disgraceful, 2/10 teammate cannot wear the shirt again

Celtic fought their way back to snatch a 2-2 draw away at Rangers in the Old Firm Derby on Sunday.

The Bhoys have hit the buffers in recent weeks, but Reo Hatate’s last-gasp equaliser proved enough to keep Martin O’Neill’s men in the title race.

Youssef Chermiti’s stunning brace had Rangers two goals up at the half-time interval, before Kieran Tierney’s headers reduced the deficit for O’Neill’s men.

Celtic then earned redemption in the final stages of the game, when Hatate saw a penalty saved by Jack Butland, before following in and converting the rebound.

With that in mind, Football Insider rates the performances of every Celtic player out of 10, after a potentially season-defining comeback.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill scratches his face during a press conference.
Credit: Imago

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Daizen Maeda has reached the end at Celtic

Daizen Maeda has been the primary source of creativity for Celtic for several years now, but he has endured a hugely difficult campaign this time around.

The Japan international has found himself under fire from the fans due to his struggles in the final third in recent weeks, and some supporters were even keen to see him sold in the recent January window.

Maeda has been central to everything for Celtic in Old Firm fixtures over the years, but he hardly did anything right during the latest edition of the derby.

The winger struggled to match the tempo of the game and also looked careless in possession, while spurning some huge chances in the second half.

It was a disgraceful performance from the forward, and the sign of a man who looks as though he has potentially checked out of the club already, and that is surely an indication that he has reached the end of the line at Parkhead.

Daizen Maeda applauding Celtic supporters
Credit: Imago

Maeda was simply not effective at the top of the pitch at all for Celtic, and as a result, he was worthy of little more than a 3/10 rating.

Dane Murray cannot play for the Bhoys again

Celtic have had problems with their lack of depth at centre-back since the start of the season, after Cameron Carter-Vickers’ injury has left a major hole in their squad.

They moved to sign Brentford starlet Benjamin Arthur on loan in the final stages of the January window, but O’Neill has opted to start youngster Dane Murray ahead of him in recent weeks.

That was the case once again on Sunday, but the 22-year-old would have quickly made his manager regret his decision with a calamity display at the heart of the defence.

Murray’s sliced clearance led to Chermiti’s second goal, and that almost proved to be the telling difference between the two teams.

He looked shaky every time the hosts attacked throughout the afternoon, and it was yet more evidence that he cannot continue to start if Celtic are to have a genuine chance of winning the league.

Murray is simply not at the required level for a title-chasing club, and as a result, his display at Ibrox should be the final straw for his Celtic career.

Celtic player ratings vs Rangers

Viljami Sinisalo – 5

Julian Araujo – 3

Dane Murray – 2

Liam Scales – 4

Kieran Tierney – 6

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 4

Benjamin Nygren – 5

Callum McGregor – 5

Yang Hyun-Jun – 4

Junior Adamu – 3

Daizen Maeda – 3

Substitutes

Sebastian Tounekti – 5

Reo Hatate – 6

Marcelo Saracchi – 5

Luke McCowan – 4

James Forrest – N/A

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