Georgios Samaras scored twice as Celtic went top of the Scottish Premier League table on goal difference at Celtic Park with a 3-0 win over Falkirk.

Earlier, Rangers had dropped their first points of the season as they drew 1-1 amid controversy at Aberdeen. Combined, these results ensured that Celtic went top, level on points with Rangers and Kilmarnock.

Shaun Maloney made his return at Celtic as a first-half substitute and he had a hand in all three goals. He won the free-kick that led to Stephen McManus' opener after 32 minutes before setting up Samaras for a second half double.

Celtic handed a debut to new signing Glenn Loovens but it was his partner in central defence McManus who looked more nervous. His slack pass in the fourth minute was intercepted by Mark Stewart at the edge of the box but Artur Boruc rushed out to block his effort.

Scott Arfield was next to have a shot in the 15th minute after he was cleverly found by a Michael Higdon pass but his effort was high and wide. Falkirk grew in confidence and Arfield again came close at the end of a flowing passing movement from the Bairns but his angled effort in the box was superbly blocked by Boruc.

Celtic were forced into a change in the 27th minute when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was injured going for the ball with Lee Bullen. Maloney, back at Celtic following his transfer from Aston Villa, replaced the Dutch striker and made an immediate impact on the game.

The diminutive forward won a free-kick on the right following a soft foul after 30 minutes. Shunsuke Nakamura floated the free-kick into the box and McManus' header found its way into the net despite Robert Olejnik getting a hand to the ball.

Celtic increased their lead in the 44th minute and Scottish international Maloney was involved again. He played a beautifully threaded through ball to Greek striker Samaras, who rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net.

Samaras laer scored his second of the day in the 67th minute after yet more smart link-up play with Maloney.

At Pittodrie, Aberdeen and Rangers shared the points with a 1-1 draw. Rangers took the lead in the first-half when David Weir fired a powerful header past Jamie Langfield from a Kevin Thomson free-kick but Derek Young equalised on the stroke of half-time.

DaMarcus Beasley thought he had snatched a win for Rangers with two minutes to go but his effort was controversially ruled offside.

Kilmarnock joined Celtic and Rangers at the top of the SPL with a 1-0 win at home to Hamilton thanks to a Manuel Pascali goal. Don Cowie fired Inverness into the lead at the Caledonian Stadium but Hibernian took a share of the points through a Colin Nish equaliser.

Hearts took all three points at Tynecastle with a 2-1 over St Mirren. Jamie Driver put Hearts ahead but St Mirren equalised through Billy Mehmet before Michael Stewart clinched the win from the penalty spot. Motherwell and Dundee United drew 1-1 at Fir Park with a debut goal for John Sutton before United captain Lee Wilkie equalised.