Celtic brushed aside Livingston 3-0 at Celtic Park after a dominant second-half performance, with Benjamin Nygren grabbing a double and Johnny Kenny netting his first home goal for the club.
Despite total first-half control, the Hoops went in at the break without a goal to show for their efforts. Celtic registered 83.6% possession and eight attempts, but were once again left frustrated by a lack of cutting edge, a familiar tale that Rodgers himself had warned about.
Shin Yamada looked the most likely to break the deadlock, linking well with Yang Hyun-Jun and Arne Engels, but couldn’t convert any of his three first-half chances. Jerome Prior was forced into a string of impressive saves to deny Yamada, Nygren, and Inamura, keeping the visitors in the match.
SECOND HALF BREAKTHROUGH
It took just two minutes after the restart for Celtic to finally make the breakthrough. Yang’s low drive from the left was spilled by Prior, and Nygren was alert to tap in the rebound for his first goal at Celtic Park and his second in as many games.
Nygren 1-0 pic.twitter.com/TMXfu1Hjdr
— Celtic Goals (@CelticGoals_) August 23, 2025
The Swede was heavily involved again on 71 minutes, doubling the lead with a composed finish after Prior palmed out Arne Engels’ low delivery. Nygren’s impact in the final third stood in sharp contrast to the hesitant finishing that plagued Celtic earlier in the game.
Nygren 2-0
pic.twitter.com/y7n7vabqdr— Celtic Goals (@CelticGoals_) August 23, 2025
Johnny Kenny then capped off the afternoon with a thunderous finish in the 76th minute after Daizen Maeda pulled Livingston’s defence apart and picked him out with a pinpoint delivery.
Kenny 3-0 pic.twitter.com/9w6JzkP6jK
— Celtic Goals (@CelticGoals_) August 23, 2025
The Irish striker’s first competitive goal at Celtic Park, and comes at a timely moment, especially with Adam Idah’s fitness in doubt ahead of next week’s European qualifier in Kazakhstan.
Kasper Schmeichel was largely a spectator but made two crucial saves late on to preserve his clean sheet, denying headers from Ryan McGowan and Mohamad Sylla during a late flurry of Livingston corners.
With key men like Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda introduced from the bench, Rodgers’ rotated side eventually found the quality required to kill off the game.
The three-goal cushion flatters Livingston, who were clinging on by the end of the first half, but it’s a result that restores some momentum ahead of Celtic’s trip to Kazakhstan.
