PREMIERSHIP

Celtic achieved their ultimate goal of reaching the top of the league. It just wasn’t in the swashbuckling way they might have envisaged. But then a 0-0 draw at Livingston is not to be sniffed at these days.

Celtic went from the high of a performance labelled by manager Brendan Rodgers as their best in Europe under him to coming up short at the Tony Macaroni Arena. Still, the point is enough to see them usurp Hearts as league leaders on goal difference as they took over top spot for the first time this season. It’s looking particularly ominous for their rivals since Celtic also have a game in hand.

Perhaps understandably, this display lacked the vigour of the dramatic, draining victory over RB Leipzig in midweek. While they found a way to break down the big-spending German side, Celtic were endlessly frustrated by a gang of gold-shirted desparados otherwise known as Livingston FC. The free-scoring visitors ran into a gridlock here in the West Lothian new town after five successive league victories where they racked up 21 goals.

Red Bull could be what fuels aerial challenge with Livingston skipper Craig Halkett. Felip Benkovic replaced him with just over 20 minutes left.

The centre-half was later revealed to have suffered a fractured eye socket and could be on the sidelines until next year. No blame could be attached to Halkett, whose committed performance typifies Livingston and is from where his side seem to draw so much inspiration.

Declan Gallagher, his centre-half colleague, won everything in the air. So accustomed is the defender to leaping to meet objects above his head it’s a wonder there are any lightbulbs left working at the Tony Macaroni Arena. There was a passage of play in the first-half where Gallagher and Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain, in for the injured Craig Gordon, enjoyed their own private duel during a series of corners. Gallagher won three headers in quick succession. Bain tipped the first