Celtic stretch lead with Livi trouncing

Celtic 5 Livingston 1

Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League to 16 points and their winning run to 25 matches with another goal blitz at Parkhead today.

As Rangers faltered at Dundee United, Stephen Pearson, Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson (two) and Henrik Larsson all helped themselves in a Sunday goal feast.

Celtic took their SPL goals tally to 86 this season and few would bet against them ensuring the championship trophy returns to Parkhead before next month’s split.

The Celtic nerves were eased on 12 minutes when they took the lead. Stanislav Varga exchanged passes with Sutton and had time to look up and roll the ball across the face of goal to present Pearson with the easiest of tap-ins.

Celtic increased their lead in the 36th minute when Larsson flicked on Thompson’s free-kick and Sutton poked the ball past McKenzie from close range.

The Celtic defence, however, let Livingston back in the game with some terrible defending in the 41st minute and Lilley capitalised to fire low past Douglas.

Celtic took just three minutes of the restart to re-establish their two-goal lead.

Thompson cut in from the left flank and exchanged passes with Sutton before coolly curling a right-footed effort past the despairing hand of McKenzie and into the corner.

Celtic wrapped up the three points in the 55th minute when McKenzie was penalised for picking up Manu Dorado’s backpass and Larsson smashed a right-footed shot home.

The pressure from the home side was relentless and Sutton headed Thompson’s corner onto the top of the net.

There was still time for Thompson to notch his second from the spot with a cheeky chip past McKenzie after substitute Craig Beattie had been fouled by Andrews.

The referee put Livingston out of their misery with the final whistle to spark wild celebrations among the Celtic fans, who are now surely counting down the games to the return of the championship trophy to Parkhead.