Preview: Livingston vs. Dundee United - prediction, team news, lineups

Bottom-of-the-table Dundee United travel to the Tony Macaroni Arena to face Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Defeat to fellow close rivals Ross County last week saw Jim Goodwin's side slip into the sole automatic relegation spot last weekend.

Match preview

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Despite a slow start after Goodwin's arrival, the new Dundee United boss seemed to have proved his critics wrong by leading his side to three straight wins to finish the regular season.

That did do their survival hopes the world of good, but they now find themselves bottom once again thanks to two defeats since the league was split.

It is a remarkable fall off for a side who were playing European football at the start of the season, beating current Europa Conference League semi-finalists AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in the home leg of their third qualifying round encounter last summer.

The 3-1 defeat at home to Ross County last week saw the two clubs switch positions in 11th and 12th, but it is all still to play for in the Relegation group with three games to go, as United are still only three points from safety with a better goal difference.

The Tangerines can take some solace from the fact they have taken seven points from their three encounters with Livingston this season, including a win during that three-game winning spell to finish off the regular season in April.

Meanwhile, Livingston can play out their final three games safe in the knowledge that they will be playing Premiership football next season.

Despite losing their last three matches, all against sides currently in the bottom three, Livingston are safe, nine points clear of Ross County who occupy the relegation playoff spot.

The fixtures that still have to be played mean there is no possibility of three sides overtaking Livingston.

Their season has drastically tailed off in recent weeks though, as defeat to their upcoming opponents prevented them from finishing in the Championship group, despite being just six points off a UECL spot.

It could be argued that coming up agonisingly short of the top six means the side have now checked out for the season, as David Martindale's men have suffered two poor defeats since the league's split.

They should be glad to be back on home soil though, having won their last two here, as their defeat to Kilmarnock last week was a seventh in succession without scoring on the road.

Team News

Livingston have just one injury worry coming into the fixture, with Ayo Obileye still out with a knee problem.

Kurtis Guthrie will return from suspension for Martindale's side though, after his red card against Ross County two weeks ago, but he could well start on the bench here.

Dundee United defender Liam Smith is unlikely to feature again this season after picking up an ankle injury during the international break in March.

Peter Pawlett is out with a hamstring issue, while Welsh international Dylan Levitt is unlikely to feature due to a knee injury.

Livingston possible starting lineup:

George; Devlin, Fitzwater, De Lucas, Montano; Se. Kelly, Holt, Shinnie; Pittman, St. Kelly, Nouble

Dundee United possible starting lineup:

Birighitti; Ayina, Edwards, McMann; Niskanen, Harkes, Sibbald, McGrath, Behich; MacLeod, Fletcher

We say: Livingston 1-2 Dundee United

Livingston are struggling for form with nothing left to play for, and they have struggled in their encounters with Dundee United this season.

A 2-0 win over Livingston for Goodwin's men just last month should give a struggling United a boost ahead of a game they really must win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.