Toby Wilding

Sat 12 April 2025 14:42, UK

Celtic moved to within one game of confirming another Scottish Premiership title as they thrashed Kilmarnock at Parkhead.

It was a dominant first half performance from Brendan Rodgers’ side. Two goals from Reo Hatate along with a Daizen Maede tap-in and Cameron Carter-Vickers wonder goal had the hosts 4-0 up.

Danny Armstrong pulled one back to make it 4-1 at half time, and after Celtic cruised through most of the second half, substitute Anthony Ralston made it 5-1 in stoppage time to complete the win.

That means a defeat for Rangers at Aberdeen on Sunday will mathematically confirm the title for the Bhoys, who will otherwise secure the trophy by winning one of their last five league games.

Here is how Football Insider rated the performances of the Celtic squad during that clash with Kilmarnock.

Celtic defence enjoy easy game

Viljami Sinisalo – 4

With Kasper Schmeichel injured Sinisalo kept his place between the posts for Celtic, but will have been disappointed not to have dealt with Danny Armstrong’s cross turned shot that got a goal back for Kilmarnock.

Alistair Johnston – (off for Ralston, ’76) – 7

Clever assist to set Hatate up for his side’s fourth, was able to get forward regularly while he was on the pitch with little attacking threat to worry about from McInnes’ side.

Cameron Carter-Vickers – 8

Wow, what a hit. Celtic want to keep Carter-Vickers this summer, and he showed why in a different way to usualwith an incredible strike which made it 3-0, other than that the centre-back enjoyed what is surely one of the most comfortable defensive performances of his season.

Liam Scales – 6

Other than one loose touch inside his own area a very easy afternoon in the centre of the Celtic defence for the 26-year-old.

Greg Taylor – (off for Schlupp, ’61) – 8

Taylor started for Celtic amid links with Rangers, but showed why his current club may want to attempt to extend his contract with a tireless performance down the left that caused plenty of problems for Kilmarnock.

Arne Engels – 8

Engels has already been touted for a move to the Premier League, and showed why here with some outstanding passing moves from the centre of the park, and a good strike that came back off the crossbar.

Callum McGregor – 7

A decent performance in the centre of the park from the Celtic captain, where he helped to keep things ticking over.

Reo Hatate – 9 – Player of the Match

Opened the scoring after just eight minutes with a stunning long-range strike. His second was more instinctive and clinical inside the area, and he chased things relentlessly as Celtic camped themselves inside their visitor’s half.

Daizen Maeda hits a landmark

James Forrest (off for Kuhn, ’61) – 7

Like the rest of his side’s attack looked lively with his work down the right-hand side, where he produced several good bits of play to help open things up.

Adam Idah (off for Jota, ’61) – 6

Will be disappointed not to have got on the scoresheet given the run of play but he did lead the line reasonably, consistently offering an outlet.

Daizen Maeda – (off for McCowan, ’81) – 7

A mixed day. His tap-in for the second was as simple as Hatate’s opener was spectacular, but made him the first player since Henrik Larsson to score in eight consecutive starts at Celtic Park. He will though be disappointed not to have had more, with another ruled out for offside and other chances missed.

Substitutes

Nicolas Kuhn (on for Forrest, ’61) – 6

One bright run right after coming on but couldn’t end his wait for a goal.

Jota (on for Idah, ’61) – 5

Couldn’t really get involved with Celtic already cruising by the time of his introduction.

Jeffrey Schlupp (on for Taylor, ’61) – 5

Didn’t drive things forward as much as Taylor, not that he needed to.

Anthony Ralston (on for Johnston, ’76) – 7

The job was already very much done by the time he came on, but he still produced a nice finish to make it 5-1 in stoppage time.

Luke McCowan (on for Maeda, ’81) – 5

An easy few minutes at the end to give Maeda a break.