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Livingston logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 4
May 12, 2021 at 6pm UK
Tony Macaroni Arena
Rangers logo

Livingston
0 - 3
Rangers


Pittman (31'), Stryjek (41')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Tavernier (42' pen.), Kent (57'), Hagi (83')
Simpson (23'), Morelos (30')

Preview: Livingston vs. Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Scottish Premiership clash between Livingston and Rangers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Scottish Premiership champions Rangers are looking to extend their unbeaten league record when they travel to Livingston on Wednesday night.

The Gers won their last visit to the Tony Macaroni Arena by a 1-0 scoreline in March, and travel there again in midweek unbeaten in their last nine meetings against the Lions.


Match preview

Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos celebrates scoring against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on May 2, 2021© Reuters

Rangers are just two games away from finishing this season's Scottish Premiership undefeated, after they comprehensively beat Old Firm rivals Celtic 4-1 at Ibrox last weekend.

A lively seven-minute spell in the first half saw three goals scored and a red card for Hoops midfielder Callum McGregor, who was dismissed for a late tackle in the build-up to Kemar Roofe's opener.

Odsonne Edouard equalised just four minutes later, before Alfredo Morelos fired a shot past Scott Bain to put the champions in control heading into half time.

Steven Gerrard's men took advantage of the extra man after the break with another goal from Roofe and a late fourth from substitute Jermain Defoe, sealing all three points for the hosts, who are now 23 points clear at the summit.

The Gers, who have won 30 and drawn five of their 35 top-flight matches this campaign, are fully focused on becoming only the second team in Scottish Premiership history to go an entire league campaign undefeated.

Gerrard's side head into Wednesday's fixture having kept a clean sheet in each of their last six meetings with Livingston, including each of their last four league visits to the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Since their return to the top-flight in 2016, the highest points total for Rangers has been 78, accumulated two seasons ago. However, if the Gers were to win their final two league games then they would finish this campaign on 102 points, becoming only the second Scottish Premiership side to surpass a century.

Livingston manager David Martindale pictured in February 2021© Reuters

Livingston's poor end to the season continued when they lost 2-1 at home to Aberdeen just over a week ago.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas pulled one back for the Lions after the Dons took a two-goal lead through Callum Hendry and Ryan Hedges, but the hosts were unable to score an equaliser, losing their fourth successive game in all competitions.

That result has seen David Martindale's side drop down to sixth in the Scottish Premiership, with St Johnstone moving above them on goal difference after they beat Hibernian 1-0.

Livingston just need one point to surpass their 2018-19 points tally of 44, their highest total since their promotion to the top flight two seasons ago. However, fixtures against champions Rangers and then against high-flying St Johnstone on the final day may prove to be challenging encounters.

The Lions have won only once in their last 21 Scottish Premiership meetings with Rangers, a 1-0 victory in September 2018.

Livingston have also lost each of their last three league games; the last time they lost four in a row was in February 2019, a run which included a 3-0 defeat at home to the Gers.

Livingston Scottish Premiership form:
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • L

Livingston form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L

Rangers Scottish Premiership form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W

Rangers form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W


Team News

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard pictured on May 2, 2021© Reuters

Gerrard has rarely made wholesale changes to his starting lineup throughout this season and, even though the title has been clinched and there are only two games remaining, he is still not expected to make too many changes in midweek.

Jack Simpson is set to keep his place at centre-back alongside Connor Goldson, while a midfield trio of Glen Kamara, Steven Davis and Joe Aribo are also likely to start.

Roofe impressed in the victory against Celtic and so he could start up front once again with Morelos and Ryan Kent, although Ianis Hagi will be hoping to earn his place back in the first XI.

As for Livingston, Martindale may decide to make changes to his starting lineup after losing the last four games in succession.

Defender Alan Lithgow could be handed a start ahead of Jack Fitzwater, while Alan Forrest may be recalled at the expense of forward Matej Poplatnik.

Emmanuel-Thomas, who has scored four goals in his last three games, is set to lead the line this weekend, with Scott Pittman to operate in the number 10 role.

Livingston possible starting lineup:
McCrorie; Devlin, Lithgow, Guthrie, Longridge; Bartley, Holt; Sibbald, Pittman, Forrest; Emmanuel-Thomas

Rangers possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Simpson, Barisic; Aribo, Davis, Kamara; Roofe, Morelos, Kent


SM words green background

We say: Livingston 0-3 Rangers

Rangers have drawn five of their last eight away matches in all competitions by a 1-1 scoreline, but they are set to have more joy on the road against Livingston, who have conceded in each of their last 13 matches.

The hosts have looked vulnerable defensively and we cannot see them stopping such a rampant Rangers outfit, who should have too much quality in the final third to win comfortably at the Tony Macaroni Arena.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



ID:446857:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11980:
Written by
Oliver Thomas

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Rangers win with a probability of 66.48%. A draw had a probability of 20.3% and a win for Livingston had a probability of 13.24%.

The most likely scoreline for a Rangers win was 0-2 with a probability of 12.67%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-1 (12.67%) and 1-2 (9.62%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.62%), while for a Livingston win it was 1-0 (4.81%). The actual scoreline of 0-3 was predicted with an 8.5% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Rangers would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Livingston vs Rangers

Livingston
8.9%
Draw
4.4%
Rangers
86.7%
45
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