Livingston post-match with A Celtic State of Mind – Frimpong is the discovery of the summer

PAUL JOHN DYKES:

The arrival of Jeremie Frimpong on transfer deadline day less than three months ago was understandably viewed as being a signing for the future.

Within a month, however, the 18-year-old Dutchman had made his debut in Neil Lennon’s side, and the attacking right-back has terrorised opposition defences at every opportunity since. His scintillating performances have resulted in three ACSOM man of the match awards in just six starts, and he came close to winning another two.

He is tenacious, dribbles past players in a way that gets Hoops’ fans off their seats, and creates chance after chance for a Celtic side positively brimming with goals.

One of those chances, which laid on Leigh Griffiths at the back post, was delivered with so much pace that it was impossible to defend. Had Griffiths been a few weeks ahead in his own comeback schedule, there is no doubt he’d have slotted the chance away to what would have been the most rapturous applause of the afternoon.

Since today’s visitors shocked Celtic with a 2-0 reverse the last time these two clubs met, the champions have scored 23 in 6 domestic matches. It was clear early on that Livingston would employ their usual roughhouse tactics, but Lennon’s men showed far more guile in combatting Gary Holt’s motley crew of hammer-throwers.

This afternoon’s 4-0 victory sent Celtic three points clear at the top of a league they are aiming to win for a ninth consecutive campaign. The summer’s finest discovery is now undoubtedly Neil Lennon’s first-choice right-back as they push for a ninth year of domestic dominance, and his progress would benefit even further from a European debut on Thursday night against Rennes.

I have no doubt that, if given the nod, Frimpong would take the challenge of European football in his stride and in a manner that belied his tender years.

KEVIN GRAHAM:

There wasn’t much doubt who was going to be man of the match today. The swashbuckling, diminutive full-back / winger / just an all-round fabulous talent that is Jeremie Frimpong had one of those days that remind us why we go and watch football in the first place. Though the Livingston players who are attempting to untwist and unknot themselves will probably think differently.

But, forgive me for not caring too much about those over-physical, time-wasting boils on the game. I don’t mind teams using their resources to their advantage but deliberately messing up the kick-off and taking almost 50 seconds a throw-in stretches the patience. That’s before the numerous challenges where no attempt to get the ball are made.

We should have scored more. The game should have been finished at half-time, but we can’t complain about how clinical we were in the second-half and that we can all dream of a team of Frimpongs.

🍀 A CELTIC STATE OF MIND
⭐️ Man of the Match
🏆 Celtic 4 Livingston 0

1️⃣ Jeremie Frimpong
2️⃣ James Forrest
3️⃣ Scott Brown