Injured Larsson out until April

Celtic 2 Livingston 1

Celtic had a taste of what life without life without Henrik Larsson will be about yesterday, and it was not pretty.

Their talismanic striker sustained a broken jaw against Livingston and will now be out for the next two months, the most part crucial of the season, which will harm their European and domestic ambitions.

Larsson, who is returning home to Sweden in 18 months, left the pitch after just 16 minutes, blood pouring from his mouth after a collision with Gus Bahoken, and Martin O'Neill confirmed later that the striker would now miss this month's Uefa Cup tie with Stuttgart and March's double-header against Rangers.

His replacement, Shaun Maloney, at least ensured no greater damage was done to Celtic's championship hopes by inspiring the comeback that keeps them three points behind their Glasgow rivals.

Roland Zarate had threatened to inflict a first League defeat on home soil in two years when he gave Livingston the lead in the 52rd minute after latching onto a bad back pass by Joos Valgaeren.

However, Maloney's dazzling free-kick repertoire sparked two goals in the final 14 minutes, as Momo Sylla and Chris Sutton both pounced on rebounds from the teenager's efforts.

Reflecting on Larsson's injury, O'Neill said: "It will be a massive blow. He's undergoing surgery but I do not know how long he will be out for. He came back from a broken leg three years ago in half the time, so you never know."

Goals: Zarate (52) 0-1; Sylla (77) 1-1; Sutton (85) 2-1.

Celtic (3-5-2): Hedman; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen (Guppy, 56); Sylla (Lambert, 85), McNamara, Lennon, Petrov, Smith; Larsson (Maloney, 16,), Sutton. Substitutes not used: Broto (gk), Crainey.

Livingston (3-5-2): Main; Maidana (Bingham, 77), Andrews, Rubio; Brinquin, Quino, Lovell (Amor, 64), O'Brien, Bahoken; Dadi, Zarate (Wilson, 62). Substitutes not used: McEwan (gk), McMenamin.

Referee: M McCurry.

Bookings: Celtic: Sutton, Petrov. Livingston: Brinquin, Bahoken , Lovell.

Man of the match: Maloney.

Attendance: 57,169.

* Dundee United and Dundee fought out a 1-1 draw at Tannadice yesterday. The home side took the lead after 19 minutes, David Mackay heading into his own goal after a mix-up with keeper Julian Speroni. Dundee equalised 11 minutes later when Nacho Novo took advantage of a slip from Gary Bollan and scored from a tight angle.