Liel Abada's 13th goal of the season ended a dream first half for Celtic

Celtic stormed to the Scottish Premiership summit at the expense of a shell-shocked Rangers after a monumental Old Firm victory ended their rivals' recent derby dominance.

Ange Postecoglou's side blitzed their rivals in a relentless first half as a brace from the peerless Reo Hatate was followed by a third from Liel Abada.

Celtic's levels dropped after the break, but reigning champions Rangers - who made three interval changes - rarely tested Joe Hart in a pedestrian showing at a raucous Parkhead.

Postecoglou's men are now 18 league fixtures without defeat after ending a seven-game winless run in Old Firm derbies and are at the summit of the division for the first time since August.

But after a 13-game unbeaten start, the defeat is Giovanni's van Bronckhorst's first as Rangers manager and could prove to be season-defining - not just because they slip behind Celtic but also due to the crushing nature of the loss.

The Ibrox side's blockbuster deadline-day signing of Aaron Ramsey added extra fizz to the build up of what was already being billed as arguably the biggest league encounter between the two in over a decade. And the atmosphere lived up to that.

Celtic Park, without any away fans in attendance, was throbbing and the hosts started at a furious pace roared on by a 60,000-strong home crowd. The opening goal only took five minutes to arrive.

Matt O'Riley's corner was only cleared as far as Hatate, who took one touch to set himself on the edge of the box before his controlled strike took a nick and beat Allan McGregor down to his left.

Bedlam ensued in the stands as Rangers players protested. They believed the game should have been stopped for a head clash when Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey collided while clearing O'Riley's delivery. But referee Bobby Madden consulted his assistant and ruled the goal would stand.

Rangers lacked any intensity or aggression without the ball as Celtic relentlessly pushed for a second.

Goalkeeper McGregor, who was at fault twice in Saturday's 3-3 at Ross County, was back to his best to deny the hosts with a stunning double save.

First, he got up to his left to stop Jota's strike before picking himself back up to get behind Giorgos Giakoumakis' header. On another day, the Greek striker could have had a first-half hat-trick after two further close-range efforts were thwarted.

But the former Scotland keeper could not prevent the outstanding Hatate doubling the hosts' advantage, when he sliced a delicious effort from the edge of the box inside the right-hand post. Celtic Park erupted again.

Rangers' minds were scrambled by then. None more so than that of Borna Barisic, who was swamped down the Celtic right and could only gawp in horror as Abada darted in front of him to flash Hatate's tempting delivery past McGregor to add a third before the break.

Van Bronckhorst threw on Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack and Fashion Sakala at the break, hoping for a reaction, but his side were reduced to hopeful efforts.

Scott Arfield flashed over from the edge of the area and Jack crashed a long-range effort off the crossbar, but they never looked like finding a foothold in the contest, even if Celtic failed to register a second-half shot on target.

But their attacking work was done in a statement first-half performance. Just over a fortnight ago, Postecoglou's men were six points adrift, now they are in the boxseat.

Man of the match - Reo Hatate

Aside from his two goals, the 24-year-old's energy in defence and attack was unrivalled in a stunning performance

What did we learn?

The significance of this victory cannot be underplayed for Celtic. The belief Postecoglou and his players will gain from a statement derby could well be priceless in their hunt for the title.

In particular, the additions of Hatate and O'Riley have a squad that was threadbare a matter of weeks ago looking strong. With Kyogo Furuhashi to return and Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi yet to get a run of games, they now have options.

On the flipside, the manner of this momentum-swinging defeat leaves Van Bronckhorst with questions to answer, especially in defence. The Ibrox side have now shipped six goals in successive league games for the first time since 1986. In their title-winning campaign last season, they conceded just 13 in total.

While Ramsey's addition will undoubtedly provide a lift, the decision to not recruit a centre-back could come back to bite the champions in their quest to retain the title.

With third-placed Hearts to come on Sunday, Van Bronckhorst's men cannot afford to lose more ground.

What's next?

The title race continues on Sunday as Celtic go to Motherwell (12:30 GMT) before Rangers host Hearts (15:00).

Player of the match

HatateReo Hatate

Celtic

Squad number41Player nameHatate

Squad number88Player nameJuranovic

Squad number33Player nameO'Riley

Squad number11Player nameAbada

Squad number17Player nameJota

Squad number42Player nameMcGregor

Squad number20Player nameCarter-Vickers

Squad number3Player nameTaylor

Squad number4Player nameStarfelt

Squad number7Player nameGiakoumakis

Squad number15Player nameHart

Squad number38Player nameMaeda

Squad number49Player nameForrest

Squad number16Player nameMcCarthy

Squad number84Player nameDoak

Squad number12Player nameSoro

Rangers

Squad number1Player nameMcGregor

Squad number8Player nameJack

Squad number26Player nameBalogun

Squad number30Player nameSakala

Squad number37Player nameArfield

Squad number18Player nameKamara

Squad number17Player nameAyodele-Aribo

Squad number3Player nameBassey

Squad number14Player nameKent

Squad number6Player nameGoldson

Squad number9Player nameDiallo

Squad number2Player nameTavernier

Squad number25Player nameRoofe

Squad number31Player nameBarisic

Line-ups

Celtic

Formation 4-3-3

15Hart

88Juranovic20Carter-Vickers4Starfelt3Taylor

33O'Riley42McGregor41Hatate

11Abada7Giakoumakis17Neves Filipe

15Hart88Juranovic20Carter-Vickers4Starfelt3Taylor33O'RileySubstituted forSoroat 88'minutes42McGregorBooked at 22mins41HatateSubstituted forMcCarthyat 72'minutes11AbadaSubstituted forForrestat 62'minutes7GiakoumakisSubstituted forMaedaat 62'minutes17Neves FilipeSubstituted forDoakat 87'minutesBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

5Scales12Soro16McCarthy29Bain38Maeda49Forrest56Ralston57Welsh84Doak

Rangers

Formation 4-3-3

1McGregor

2Tavernier6Goldson3Bassey31Barisic

37Arfield18Kamara17Ayodele-Aribo

9Diallo25Roofe14Kent

1McGregor2TavernierBooked at 74mins6Goldson3BasseyBooked at 52mins31BarisicSubstituted forBalogunat 45'minutesBooked at 76mins37Arfield18KamaraSubstituted forJackat 45'minutes17Ayodele-Aribo9DialloSubstituted forSakalaat 45'minutes25Roofe14Kent

Substitutes

4Lundstram8Jack10Davis11Itten19Sands26Balogun30Sakala33McLaughlin51Lowry

Live Text

Match ends, Celtic 3, Rangers 0.

Second Half ends, Celtic 3, Rangers 0.

Attempt missed. Connor Goldson (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ryan Kent with a cross following a set piece situation.

Ben Doak (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.

Fashion Sakala (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Ben Doak (Celtic).

Foul by Fashion Sakala (Rangers).

Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Ryan Jack (Rangers).

Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Josip Juranovic with a cross.

Substitution, Celtic. Ismaila Soro replaces Matt O'Riley.

Substitution, Celtic. Ben Doak replaces Jota.

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Allan McGregor.

Foul by Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Rangers).