Hoops go top of the table after rampant first half showing

Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference after a blistering first half display helped the Hoops on their way to a 5-0 victory over Kilmarnock.

Goals from Jota and Moritz Jenz followed Kyogo’s opener to put Ange Postecoglou’s side 3-0 ahead with the referee yet to blow for half time. Carl Starfelt then netted his first goal for Celtic since arriving last summer before a spectacular overhead kick from Giorgos Giakoumakis sealed a rampant triumph for the Hoops.

Reo Hatate once again missed out for Postecoglou’s side as he continues his recovery from injury, while Daizen Maeda was given the nod in attack in lieu of Liel Abada.

And it was the Japanese forward who was the architect of Celtic’s opener inside six minutes. Greg Taylor threaded a gorgeous pass inside Kilmarnock’s Fraser Murray before Maeda pulled the ball across to Kyogo for the easiest of finishes.

Murray curled an effort wide of Joe Hart’s far post as the home side went in search of a response, although Jota took matters into his own hands in the 34th minute to double Celtic’s advantage.

Receiving in space from 30 yards out, the Portuguese forward unleashed an unstoppable effort that flew into the top corner, in similar fashion to his strike against Aberdeen on the opening weekend.

Ange Postecoglou’s side had their tails up, and they took the game away from Kilmarnock when Moritz Jenz made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time. Callum McGregor unleashed at goal from the edge of the penalty area and, when the ball bounced around the penalty area, Jenz produced an acrobatic effort that nestled into the bottom corner.

Jenz’s afternoon was ended through injury when he hobbled off just eight minutes after the restart, but it was his replacement who put the iceing on the cake for Celtic.

Cameron Carter-Vickers had his header thwarted by a diving save from Sam Walker in the Kilmarnock goal, but Starfelt was on hand to lift his rebound over the goalkeeper at the second time of asking.

There was still time for another substitute to get in on the act as Giakoumakis – never one to be afraid of the spectacular – upstaged Jenz’s earlier strike by meeting a loose ball in the penalty area with an acrobatic overhead kick finish.