X reacts as Rangers and Celtic play out six-goal Old Firm thriller

The spoils were evenly shared as Rangers and Celtic clashed in an exhilarating 3-3 draw at the iconic Ibrox Stadium on Sunday.

This pulsating encounter kept both teams firmly entrenched in their positions in the Scottish Premiership table, with Rangers holding onto second place and Celtic maintaining their grip on the top spot.

In a thrilling Old Firm derby, the deadlock was shattered within a mere 21 seconds. Rangers captain, James Tavernier, found himself caught off guard by a precise long ball over the top and his hasty clearance attempt only served to ricochet off the advancing Daizen Maeda, propelling the ball into the far corner of the net.

Maeda's goal not only marked the fastest Premiership goal of the season but also had an immediate impact, sending shockwaves through the Rangers' camp. As the wind swirled around the stadium, the early strike undoubtedly unsettled the home side, setting the tone for a fiercely contested match.

Connor Goldson had a glaring chance to restore parity before the half-hour mark following a sublime delivery from Mohamed Diomande, but somehow the defender header the ball over the woodwork with Joe Hart already beaten.

Shortly thereafter, Jack Butland showcased his goalkeeping prowess for Rangers, thwarting Maeda's low shot with a brilliant save. Despite the rebound falling to Reo Hatate, the Japanese midfielder failed to capitalise, sending his subsequent effort wide of the mark.

Under the watchful eye of England manager Gareth Southgate, the Rangers stopper continued to perform well and he denied Matt O'Riley's header with a commanding save. However, the momentum shifted when Celtic were awarded a penalty after a VAR review.

Referee John Beaton pointed to the spot after consulting the monitor to review an incident where the ball struck Goldson's elbow, leading to a penalty being awarded to Celtic. O'Riley displayed remarkable composure as he stepped up to take the penalty, executing a cool dink down the middle while Butland dove in the opposite direction. It was a moment of nerve and finesse, as Celtic extended their advantage with style.

Silence descended upon Ibrox once more, only to be shattered by a chorus of boos as Fabio Silva was denied by a resolute Hart in the dying embers of the first half.

At the break, boss Philippe Clement turned to his bench and replaced winger Scott Wright with forward Abdallah Sima. And perhaps fuelled by an impassioned team talk, Rangers surged forward with renewed determination, applying pressure on the Celtic defence.

Their efforts were rewarded with the awarding of a penalty, albeit amid significant controversy, as Fabio Silva's booking for a dive in the area was rescinded after a VAR check. Tavernier, seeking to make amends for his early mistake, confidently stepped up and fired the ball past Hart from the spot, restoring hope for Rangers.

Cyriel Dessers believed he had levelled the game shortly after Tavernier's spot kick, as he poked the ball home following Sima's saved shot. However, Beaton decided to consult the monitor before ultimately disallowing the goal due to a foul committed by Tom Lawrence in the build-up.

Ibrox was now bouncing as Rangers went in search for an equaliser and it came with four minutes of normal time remaining when Sima picked up a loose ball inside the Celtic box and thumped it high into the net via a deflection.

Just a moment later, Adam Idah had Celtic back in front as he fizzed in a low shot from just inside the penalty area under the diving Butland.

But, in the third of eight added minutes, Rabbi Matondo executed a skilful turn inside the Celtic box. With finesse, he curled the ball high past Hart, igniting euphoria among the home supporters. Their jubilation reached a crescendo before the referee signalled the end of the match, leaving both teams to settle for a hard-fought draw.