Digressive Celts

Matches › 2025/26

Celtic 3–0 Livingston

Saturday 23 August 2025, 15:00 · Celtic Park · Round 3 · Half-time 0–0 · Referee Kevin Clancy · Attendance 58,548

Celtic Nygren 47', 72', Kenny 77'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

CelticLivingston
Goals30
xG3.020.24
Expected Points2.900.06

Celtic 95%Draw 4%Livingston 1%

Most likely score 3–0, 23%. Final score 3–0, 23%.

Livingston goalsCeltic goals0123456+0123456+1%8%2%5%6%4%8%2%3%19%23%16%Final score

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

012340153045607590HTMcGregor on for Bernardo, Forrest on for McCowan, and Maeda on for Yamada, 58'Kenny on for Yang, 69'Donovan on for Ralston, 79'May on for Blaney, 29'McLennan on for Winter and Yengi on for Bokila, 66'Smith on for Tait, 74'Nygren 47'Nygren 72'Kenny 77'Celtic 3.02Livingston 0.24012340153045607590HTMcGregor on for Bernardo, Forrest on for McCowan, and Maeda on for Yamada, 58'Kenny on for Yang, 69'Donovan on for Ralston, 79'May on for Blaney, 29'McLennan on for Winter and Yengi on for Bokila, 66'Smith on for Tait, 74'Nygren 47'Nygren 72'Kenny 77'3.020.24CelticLivingston

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Stoppage time is shaded as far as the last shot or event recorded in it. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

CelticLivingston

3.02 +1.73xG0.24 −1.47
4.16 +2.60xG on target0.10 −2.48
19 +6Shots6 −6
9 +4.0Shots on target2 −3.5
7 +3.5Big chances0 −2.5
45 +13Touches in the opposition box13 −7
78% +4Possession22% −30
738 −5Passes193 −196
91% +2Pass accuracy65% −5
88% +6Field tilt12% −41
84 +14Final-third entries16 −18
27 +6Box entries5 −6
5.8 −3.7Passes per defensive action20.1 +10.3
10 +1.0Corners4 −0.5
18 +8.5Tackles22 +0.5
5 −3.0Interceptions13 +6.5
24 0Clearances52 +14
2 0.0Saves6 +5.0
12 +2Fouls8 −10
3 0.0Offsides1 +0.5

The small figure beside each value is its difference from the side's average per league match this season before this one. Field tilt is each side's share of the open-play passes completed in the final third; entries are completed open-play passes and carries into the final third and the box; passes per defensive action (PPDA) counts the opponent's passes in its own 60% of the pitch for each tackle, interception, challenge, or foul there.

Chance locations

Celtic

Yamada 44', 0.48 xGYang 45+3', 0.33 xGYamada 53', 0.23 xGKenny 83', 0.15 xGNygren 38', 0.08 xGForrest 85', 0.07 xGYamada 35', 0.06 xGEngels 68', 0.06 xGNygren 3', 0.05 xGMcCowan 29', 0.03 xGRalston 44', 0.03 xGYang 47', 0.03 xGEngels 64', 0.03 xGNygren 56', 0.02 xGInamura 45+5', 0.01 xGInamura 59', 0.01 xGNygren 47', 0.73 xG, goalKenny 76', 0.41 xG, goalNygren 71', 0.18 xG, goal11%0.33 xGSix-yard box: 1 shot, 0.33 xG, 0 goals77%2.33 xGCentral box: 9 shots, 2.33 xG, 3 goals5%0.16 xGWide in the box: 3 shots, 0.16 xG, 0 goals7%0.20 xGEdge of the box: 6 shots, 0.20 xG, 0 goals0%0.00 xGFurther out: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals

Livingston

May 87', 0.12 xGFinlayson 70', 0.05 xGSmith 86', 0.02 xGPittman 86', 0.02 xGSylla 90+3', 0.02 xGMcGowan 90+3', 0.01 xG0%0.00 xGSix-yard box: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals33%0.08 xGCentral box: 3 shots, 0.08 xG, 0 goals0%0.00 xGWide in the box: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals50%0.12 xGEdge of the box: 1 shot, 0.12 xG, 0 goals17%0.04 xGFurther out: 2 shots, 0.04 xG, 0 goals

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

CelticLivingston

2.77 15 shots, 2 goalsOpen play0.15 3 shots, 0 goals
0.25 4 shots, 1 goalSet pieces0.08 3 shots, 0 goals

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

Level
52 min (53%) · Celtic 1.84, Livingston 0.00 xG
Celtic ahead
46 min (47%) · Celtic 1.18, Livingston 0.24 xG

Line-ups

1564752514282781813SchmeichelRalstonMurrayScalesInamuraMcCowanBernardoEngelsNygrenYamadaYangGoalGoal79'58'58'58'69'Celtic 4-3-3Brendan Rodgers2819527440824251618PriorFinlaysonMcGowanWilsonBlaneyLawalPittmanSyllaTaitWinterBokila29'74'66'66'Livingston 5-4-1David Martindale

Celtic substitutes

  • 58' McGregor for Bernardo
  • 58' Maeda for Yamada · 1 assist
  • 58' Forrest for McCowan
  • 69' Kenny for Yang · goal 77'
  • 79' Donovan for Ralston

Livingston substitutes

  • 29' May for Blaney · yellow card 75'
  • 66' McLennan for Winter
  • 66' Yengi for Bokila
  • 74' Smith for Tait

Players

Celtic

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
SchmeichelGK900.000.0000.0230
RalstonRB790.030.0910.2363
MurrayCB900.000.2620.181211
ScalesCB900.000.4610.2978
InamuraLB900.020.5320.22129
McCowanCM580.030.0300.0211
BernardoCM580.000.0600.0730
EngelsCM900.090.0510.0735
NygrenRW9021.071.0130.58123
YamadaST580.780.0300.0330
YangLW690.360.1810.26101
McGregorMF320.000.040−0.0402
MaedaFW3210.000.4510.0022
ForrestFW320.070.0700.0990
KennyFW2110.560.0100.0210
DonovanDF110.000.0000.0013

Livingston

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
PriorGK900.000.0000.0233
FinlaysonRWB900.050.0100.0558
McGowanCB900.010.0110.00211
WilsonCB900.000.0100.03311
BlaneyCB290.000.0000.0006
LawalLWB900.000.0100.0219
PittmanRM900.020.0310.0107
SyllaCM900.020.0110.07315
TaitCM740.000.000−0.0107
WinterLM660.000.0000.0009
BokilaST660.000.0000.0101
May FW610.120.1130.0111
McLennanMF240.000.0000.0112
YengiFW240.000.0000.0501
SmithFW160.020.0200.0410

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions). xT is the expected threat added by the player's completed open-play passes and carries, and Prog counts progressive passes and carries.

Pass networks

Celtic

Schmeichel and Inamura: 6 passesMurray and McCowan: 6 passesRalston and McCowan: 8 passesInamura and McCowan: 8 passesEngels and Bernardo: 8 passesSchmeichel and Murray: 10 passesRalston and Engels: 10 passesMcCowan and Nygren: 11 passesSchmeichel and Scales: 12 passesEngels and Yang: 12 passesScales and Yang: 13 passesBernardo and McCowan: 13 passesMurray and Nygren: 15 passesInamura and Bernardo: 15 passesScales and Bernardo: 16 passesScales and Engels: 17 passesInamura and Engels: 17 passesRalston and Nygren: 20 passesMurray and Bernardo: 20 passesInamura and Yang: 20 passesBernardo and Nygren: 22 passesRalston and Murray: 23 passesScales and Murray: 28 passesRalston and Bernardo: 38 passesScales and Inamura: 46 passesSchmeichel: 18 completed passesRalston: 59 completed passesScales: 75 completed passesMurray: 59 completed passesInamura: 68 completed passesEngels: 37 completed passesBernardo: 70 completed passesMcCowan: 25 completed passesNygren: 39 completed passesYamada: 6 completed passesYang: 28 completed passes1565472527281481813SchmeichelRalstonScalesMurrayInamuraEngelsBernardoMcCowanNygrenYamadaYangStarters until 58' · lines join pairs with 6+ passes

Livingston

Prior and Wilson: 3 passesBlaney and Lawal: 3 passesPrior and Finlayson: 4 passesFinlayson and Bokila: 4 passesFinlayson and Pittman: 5 passesPrior: 6 completed passesFinlayson: 10 completed passesMcGowan: 3 completed passesBlaney: 5 completed passesWilson: 5 completed passesLawal: 5 completed passesPittman: 1 completed passesSylla: 1 completed passesTait: 1 completed passesWinter: 0 completed passesBokila: 1 completed passes2819542740824251618PriorFinlaysonMcGowanBlaneyWilsonLawalPittmanSyllaTaitWinterBokilaStarters until 29' · lines join pairs with 3+ passes

Each starter at the average position of their passes and receptions until the side's first substitution or red card, sized by completed passes. Lines join pairs who passed to each other often, thicker for more passes.

Passing combinations

Celtic

FromToPasses
ScalesInamura34
InamuraScales26
MurrayRalston21
ScalesMurray19
MurrayScales19

Livingston

FromToPasses
PriorFinlayson8
LawalTait5
TaitWilson4
PriorWilson4
FinlaysonPittman4

The five pairs with the most completed passes from one to the other over the whole match.

Defensive actions

Celtic

2−1.02−3.012+2.530.06+2.011+5.53−2.07+2.58−1.012+5.050.02−2.510.02−4.05−1.540.040.08+5.03−0.59+4.03+3.01−2.51−1.51−1.52−1.03+1.52+2.00−1.00−0.51−1.0FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 2 matches

Livingston

9+4.012+7.023+10.512+6.010+3.02−5.57−6.57−3.510−0.514+5.54+2.54−2.54+0.511+2.51−7.51−1.52−2.51−1.52−2.56+0.54+0.53+1.53+3.03+2.03−0.51+0.500.00−1.500.01−2.5FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 2 matches

Where each side made its tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, recoveries, challenges, and fouls, attacking up the page. Areas are shaded by the difference from the side's average per match this season before this one: amber for more, blue for fewer.

Threat

Celtic

0.010.010.030.010.130.020.020.060.040.070.030.170.150.080.070.050.100.010.090.090.10−0.150.140.230.220.25LessMore

Livingston

0.020.010.010.010.010.010.010.010.010.020.02−0.010.010.010.020.030.060.07LessMore

Expected threat added by completed open-play passes and carries, by where the move started, attacking up the page. Expected threat is the chance that possession in an area leads to a goal; a move adds the difference between where it ends and where it starts.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.02.5League average 1.38AttackCeltic2.44 → 2.46Livingston1.07 → 1.04Defence (lower is better)Celtic0.77 → 0.76Livingston1.60 → 1.62

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

ChanceBeforeWith this resultChange
Celtic
Title94%95%+1
Livingston
Top six19%18%−1
11th18%18%0
Bottom13%14%+1
Rangers
Title5%5%0
Top six>99%>99%0

From the forecast before the match (23 August 2025): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

CelticLivingston
Expected goals3.340.54
Win89%3%
Expected Points2.750.17
Clean sheet58%4%

Celtic 89%Draw 8%Livingston 3%

Most likely score 3–0, 13%. Both sides score 40%.

Livingston goalsCeltic goals0123456+0123456+2%7%4%1%6%2%7%2%6%2%7%4%1%7%4%1%12%13%11%

From the forecast as it stood on 23 August 2025: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

ChanceNowCeltic winDrawLivingston win
Celtic
Title94%95%90%90%
Livingston
Top six19%18%24%37%
11th18%18%14%10%
Bottom13%14%8%6%
Rangers
Title5%5%9%8%
Top six>99%>99%>99%99%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Celtic

  1. W2–010 AugAberdeen (A)xG 1.17–0.55
  2. W1–03 AugSt. Mirren (H)xG 1.41–0.23
  3. D1–117 MaySt. Mirren (H)xG 2.55–0.20
  4. W5–114 MayAberdeen (A)xG 3.68–1.07
  5. W3–110 MayHibernian (H)xG 2.26–0.82
  6. D1–14 MayRangers (A)xG 1.10–1.46

Livingston

  1. W3–19 AugFalkirk (H)xG 1.59–0.78
  2. D2–22 AugKilmarnock (A)xG 1.83–0.91
  3. D1–119 MayHibernian (H)xG 0.66–0.66
  4. L1–515 MayAberdeen (A)xG 1.65–1.77
  5. W2–111 MaySt. Johnstone (H)xG 1.30–2.62
  6. L1–44 MayMotherwell (A)xG 0.66–2.63

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Season to date

CelticLivingston
Position2nd3rd
Played22
Won, drawn, lost2–⁠0–⁠01–⁠1–⁠0
Points6 (3.00 per game)4 (2.00 per game)
Expected Points per game2.092.08
Goals3–⁠05–⁠3
xG per game1.29–⁠0.391.71–⁠0.84
Home: points, xG per game3.00, 1.41–⁠0.233.00, 1.59–⁠0.78
Away: points, xG per game3.00, 1.17–⁠0.551.00, 1.83–⁠0.91
ManagerBrendan Rodgers (78)David Martindale (139)

League matches this season before kick-off. The manager's number is league matches in charge since 2020/21.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.02.5League average 1.38AttackCeltic2.44, 1stLivingston1.07, 11thDefence (lower is better)Celtic0.77, 1stLivingston1.60, 10th

This season

Attack0.51.01.52.02.51 Aug10 AugCeltic attack: 2.44Livingston attack: 1.072.441.07LivingstonCelticDefence (lower is better)0.51.01.52.02.51 Aug10 AugCeltic defence: 0.77Livingston defence: 1.601.600.77

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

CelticLivingston
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play+104%−47%+10%−6%
Counter-attacks+44%−34%−33%+31%
Set pieces−7%−64%−20%−14%
Penaltiesaverage−75%+167%−33%
Headers+13%−67%−17%average
Left side+60%−47%−1%+17%
Centre+62%−52%−13%−14%
Right side+76%−53%+12%−12%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't. Until a side has played six matches its figures are blended with last season's, or with the league average where there is no last season to use.

Matchups

Celtic attacking

Celtic createdLivingston concededLeft side+60%−12%Centre+62%−14%Right side+76%+17%Open play+104%−6%Counter-attacks+44%+31%Set pieces−7%−14%Headers+13%average

Livingston attacking

Livingston createdCeltic concededLeft side−1%−53%Centre−13%−52%Right side+12%−47%Open play+10%−47%Counter-attacks−33%−34%Set pieces−20%−64%Headers−17%−67%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Season averages

CelticLivingston

1.29xG1.71
0.39xG against0.84
74%Possession52%
13.5Shots12.0
5.0Shots against8.0
5.0Shots on target5.5
3.5Big chances2.5
32.0Touches in the opposition box20.0
743Passes390
89%Pass accuracy70%
9.0Corners4.5
81%Field tilt53%
69.5Final-third entries34.0
21.0Box entries11.0
9.5Passes per defensive action9.8

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Celtic

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level571.130.21
Ahead331.570.71
Behind0––

Livingston

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level300.751.33
Ahead361.590.38
Behind243.090.94

xG by period

Celtic

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.200.010–0
16–300.230.011–0
31–450.190.010–0
46–600.280.080–0
61–750.180.121–0
76–900.210.161–0

Livingston

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.020.280–0
16–300.160.061–0
31–450.070.351–2
46–600.510.000–0
61–750.480.091–1
76–900.470.062–0

Per game this season, with stoppage time counted in its half; goals are totals for and against.

Most used players by position

Celtic

GKRBCBCBLBCMCMCMRWSTLWSchmeichel 2Johnston 2Carter-Vickers 2Scales 2Tierney 2Nygren 2McGregor 2Hatate 2Forrest 1Yang 1Idah 2Maeda 24-3-3 in every start

Livingston

GKRBCBCBLBCMCMCMRWSTLWPrior 2Lawal 1Finlayson 1McGowan 2Wilson 2Montgomery 2Tait 2Carey 1Sylla 1Pittman 2Winter 1Smith 1Muirhead 2Carey 1Winter 14-3-3 in every start

This season's most used formation, with up to three players who started most often in each position and their league starts there. Underneath, when a side has used more than one, every formation with its starts.

Head to head

DateHomeAwayxG
31 March 2024Livingston0–3CelticxG 0.14–2.11
23 December 2023Celtic2–0LivingstonxG 3.66–0.00
23 September 2023Livingston0–3CelticxG 0.94–2.61
1 February 2023Celtic3–0LivingstonxG 1.51–0.35
21 December 2022Celtic2–1LivingstonxG 1.96–0.28
30 October 2022Livingston0–3CelticxG 0.24–2.47

13 league meetings since 2020/21: Celtic won 9, Livingston won 1, and 3 were drawn. Goals 30–7 and xG 2.12–0.59 per game.

Key players

Celtic

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Idah211,8501300.700.13
Engels252,150970.420.36
McCowan131,333770.250.46
Forrest91,019150.250.42

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes. Until a side has played six matches, last season's minutes at the club count too.