Rangers 0 Livingston 0 LIVE score and goal updates from the Premiership clash at Ibrox

Daily Record

12 August 2023

Rangers 0 Livingston 0 LIVE score and goal updates from the Premiership clash at Ibrox

It was far from the perfect start to the Scottish Premiership campaign for Rangers last weekend with defeat to Kilmarnock.

But Michael Beale will be looking to prove that the slip up at Rugby Park was nothing more than a false start for his revamped side when Livingston arrive at Ibrox.

The Light Blues will look to get off the mark in the league when David Martindale's men arrive in Govan after securing a morale-boosting win over Servette in their first Champions League qualifier in midweek.

And with the second leg against the Swiss side just around the corner the Light Blues can't afford any more blows to confidence as Beale looks to build momentum early in the campaign.

There have been some murmurs of discontent in the stands so far this season after a busy summer has failed to show the early progress many had hoped - and Livingston will be keen to pile the early pressure on Gers this term.

The Lions took a point off Aberdeen in their opening fixture and Martindale will demand more of the resolute defending they showed when keeping Barry Robson's side at bay during the goalless draw.

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Barisic, Raskin, Cifuentes, Cantwell, Lammers, Desser, Danilo Subs: McCrorie, Lundstram, Hagi, Matondo, Sima, Dowell, Sterling, Roofe, King

Livingston: George, Devlin, Obileye, de Lucas, Brandon, Shinnie, Holt, Montano, Sangare, Nouble, Kelly Subs: Hamilton, Nottingham, MacKay, Ledingham, Guthrie, Penrice, Bradley, Parkes, Boyes

Martin O'Neill offers Beale sympathy

Martin O'Neill has had his say on the unique pressures of Old Firm management and the challenges facing Michael Beale. Speaking to Boyle Sports, who provide the latest SPFL betting odds, the legendary former Celtic manager said:

When you're managing an Old Firm club, the last thing you want to be doing is falling behind this early on in the season. I think it'll take a bit of time for Rangers' new signings to settle in. I wouldn't be in a rush to judge any of them just yet.
Of course Michael Beale is under pressure because the last thing you want to be playing catch up this early in the season. It's far too early to call what will happen in the first Old Firm of the season, but I'm not on board with manager's being under pressure so early in the campaign.

BREAKING! Goldson in UCL panic

Sidelined Connor Goldson has been rested ahead of Rangers' crucial second leg clash with Servette after picking up a knock ahead of facing Livingston.

The centre-back was a surprise absentee for the Scottish Premiership showdown at Ibrox with Leon Balogun coming into the heart of the defence to partner John Souttar for the showdown with David Martindale's men. The 30-year-old played the full 90 minutes against the Swiss side in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier but Michael Beale has moved to calm fears that he will miss the crucial showdown.

Davies and Yilmaz latest

Ben Davies and Ridvan Yilmaz will return to Rangers training next week according to Michael Beale.

The London boss made the call to drop Connor Goldson and Ryan Jack from his squad ahead of a packed fixture schedule, with Leon Balogun returning to the back four against Livingston. But as for former Liverpool man Davies and Turkish left-back Yilmaz, the pair will boost Beale's options.

He told BBC Sportsound:

Ben Davies will return to training on Monday and Ridvan Yilmaz will come back on Thursday when we're back from Switzerland. In terms of the back four we have numbers but it's important players now make the shirt their own.

Must-win territory for hosts

You could categorise just about every domestic match at Ibrox as 'must-win' but this one, even so early in the season, already has an air of the absolutely-must-win after Rangers' surprise defeat at Rugby Park last week.

Having brought in nine new signings this summer, Michael Beale knows that the more his new group play together, the better understanding they will forge as they look to get into their groove.

The new-look front three of Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and Danilo all have experience of the Dutch Eredivisie and their fluid attacking style could be a key to unlocking an expectedly staunch Livingston defence.

Goldson resting confirmed

Rangers have confirmed that both Connor Goldson and Ryan Jack 'have been rested for this match' against Livingston as we await a further update from Michael Beale.

With Goldson being such a key component of the back four, it would seem odd if there was nothing underlying in this decision, but we'll wait and see on this one.

Cifuentes with the chance to impress

Michael Beale had promised pre-match that Jose Cifuentes would start and so it's come to pass.

The Ecuadorian midfielder has the chance to impress and get some much-needed game time with his new team-mates as they look to get their first cinch Premiership points on the board, while also gearing up for that crunch Servette tie in midweek.

Having played all summer with LAFC, his fitness will not be an issue, but this is a key time to get to know the systems and styles of play of his colleagues.

No Goldson as Beale opts for Balogun

The huge news for the hosts is undoubtedly the absence of the influential Connor Goldson from the squad, as Michael Beale had indicated he needed to protect one or two of his players this weekend.

Goldson is not long back from a serious injury layoff and, with the second leg of their Champions League qualifier with Servette coming up in midweek, the Light Blues fans will be hoping his absence is nothing more than a precaution.

Returning ex-Rangers could hold key

Jason Holt, Andrew Shinnie and Stephen Kelly are all in the Livi XI for this one - could they hold the keys for the visitors in the midfield engine room as they look to pull off another upset?

Rangers Team News

The hosts have gone with this XI for the game today.

Rangers XI: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Barisic, Raskin, Cifuentes, Cantwell, Lammers, Dessers, Danilo

Subs: McCrorie, Lundstram, Hagi, Matondo, Sima, Dowell, Sterling, Roofe, King

Livingston Team News

Here's how the visitors will line up this afternoon.

Livingston Starting XI: George, Devlin, Obileye, de Lucas, Brandon, Shinnie, Holt, Montano, Sangare, Nouble, Kelly

Subs: Hamilton, Nottingham, MacKay, Ledingham, Guthrie, Penrice, Bradley, Parkes, Boyes

Limited tickets available

Rangers have announced that there are still some limited tickets available for the clash this afternoon, but if you can't make it you can follow along with all the action right here on Record Sport.

The hosts arrive

The Rangers players look focused and ready in the build up to this one as they arrive at Ibrox.

Dowell speaks pre-match

Kieran Dowell was speaking to club media in the build up to this afternoon's game. When asked if he was expecting similar tactics to Kilmarnock last week from today's opponents, the former Norwich midfielder said:

Yeah, that's what it's gonna be, so this time we need to find a way to win, we need to find a weakness in their team and how we can exploit that. It's about being patient and moving the ball well. Teams are going to come to stop us so we need to find a way to win.

Tavernier set pieces seal victory in last meeting

The last time these two sides met, in February this year at the Tony Macaroni Arena (or the Spaghettihad as some genius has dubbed it), it took a pair of James Tavernier set-piece specials to settle a 3-0 victory on the road for Rangers.

The captain bagged his 50th penalty goal from the spot in the first half and then dispatched a trademark free-kick past Shamal George after Stephane Omeonga had picked up his second yellow card in conceding the set piece.

Kemar Roofe bagged a third to seal the victory, which was Rangers' 13th out of 14 games under Michael Beale at that time.

Livi out to repeat last visit

The last time these two sides met on the south side of Glasgow, in October last year, 10-man Livingston came within moments of a famous victory before John Lundstram struck in injury time to break Lions' hearts.

Joel Nouble had given the West Lothian side a fourth-minute lead in this one and the visitors were reduced to ten men 12 minutes from time after substitute Morgan Boyes saw his yellow card upgraded to red by VAR for a late challenge on Alfredo Morelos.

Ref Watch

Don Robertson will be the man in the middle for today's encounter and he'll be assisted on-pitch by Ross Macleod and Steven Traynor, with Calum Scott taking the Fourth Official reins.

In the VAR Room, Steven McLean will be assisted by AVAR John McCrossan.

Weather Watch

The storm clouds were somewhat brewing over Ibrox after their first top-flight opening day defeat in 25 years at Kilmarnock last week, and the weather in Glasgow today has lived up to the stormy atmosphere.

After some heavy-ish rain this morning, it's dried up for now and is still pleasantly warm, although there remains a chance of thundery downpours throughout the afternoon...(this being Glasgow after all).