Aberdeen will welcome Livingston to Pittodrie for their Scottish Premiership encounter on Saturday.
Both sides have accumulated the same number of points from their opening four league fixtures, winning and losing two games each.
Match preview
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Aberdeen have fluctuated between defeat and victory in their opening four Premiership matches, but they managed to end up on the winning side last weekend as they secured a narrow 1-0 win away at St Johnstone.
After a goalless first half, Liverpool loanee Leighton Clarkson curled in an exceptional 30-yard free kick just before the hour mark, and that strike was enough to settle the contest at McDiarmid Park.
Manager Jim Goodwin has made 11 signings so far this summer and his new-look squad now seems to have plenty of strength in depth, which should stand the Dons in good stead as they aim to challenge for the European positions this term.
Aberdeen struggled for consistency last season and have failed to win consecutive league matches in over eight months. This run would end, though, if they were to claim maximum points against Livingston.
Success against the Lions is not a given for the Dons, however, as they have lost their last two meetings against them, including a 2-1 home defeat in April of last season.
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Livingston missed the chance to claim a third successive league victory as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat with 10 men away against Motherwell last weekend.
After a goalless first half, the deadlock was broken in the 68th minute when Kevin van Veen converted from the penalty spot, before substitute Dylan Bahamboula was given his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards within three minutes.
That defeat for David Martindale's side brought their five-game unbeaten run on the road to an end, and leaves them sixth in the Premiership standings, three points behind Motherwell in third and four points behind Rangers in second.
Livingston, who have won their last two games against Aberdeen by a 2-1 scoreline, will be looking to claim a third consecutive top-flight win against the Dons for the first time in their history when they make the trip to Pittodrie on Saturday.
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Team News
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Aberdeen are set to be without midfielders Callum Roberts and Connor Barron who continue to recover from respective hamstring and knee injuries.
Hayden Coulson returned from injury last weekend to start at left-back and the Middlesbrough loanee could keep his place in the back four along with Liam Scales, Anthony Stewart and Jayden Richardson.
Bojan Miovski, who has scored four goals in five games since joining the Dons this summer, is expected to lead the line, with Vicente Besuijen and Johnny Hayes set to provide support on the flanks.
As for Livingston, Bahamboula will miss out through suspension following his red card last weekend, while Morgan Boyes and Tom Parkes are ruled out with respective ankle and knee injuries.
Martindale is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, which could see Scott Pittman and Andrew Shinnie operate in behind lone striker Jon Nouble.
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Roos; Richardson, Stewart, Scales, Coulson; Ramadani, McCrorie; Besuijen, Clarkson, Hayes; Miovski
Livingston possible starting lineup:
George; Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye, Montano; Omeonga, Holt, Kelly; Shinnie, Pittman; Nouble
We say: Aberdeen 1-1 Livingston
A closely-fought contest between two evenly-matches sides is set to take place at Pittodrie, and although Livingston will have a slight psychological advantage – having won the last two meetings against Aberdeen – we can see the hosts coming away with a least a point on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
