Rangers moved six points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable win over Livingston.
Jermain Defoe scored his 300th club career goal to add to Joe Aribo’s early opener, and even though Livi hit a post, Rangers continued their domination through the second half.
With Celtic dropping points at Aberdeen, Steven Gerrard’s side took full advantage to increase their lead at the league summit, having played one game more.
For Livingston, it is a second defeat in a row and they remain ninth in the table.
Since a 0-0 draw between the pair in August, both have had little problem in scoring. Rangers have hit 32 goals in 11 games, Livingston 17 in nine.
Each side had a lot to be motivated for in this fixture, too. Rangers were eyeing the chance to increase their lead at the top, while Livingston knew a win would lift them into the top six.
But Gary Holt’s men were made to pay early on for a lack of concentration in their own box. Ianis Hagi collected the ball and fed Jermain Defoe, whose shot was blocked, but the Livi defence ignored the threat of Aribo who slotted in unmarked six yards out.
As simple as the first was, Rangers’ second was a touch of class from Defoe. The 38-year-old – making his first start of the season – met James Tavernier’s inch-perfect long ball and glided a low, first-time shot past Livingston goalkeeper Max Stryjek from the edge of the box.
Livingston had failed to score on the road only once this season, and they almost elicited an instant response when Connor Goldson directed a cross off his own post. Agonisingly for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, the ball bounced off him and into the arms of goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
Good deliveries into the box just evaded Defoe and Tavernier when a tap-in would have secured a third goal for Rangers. But it was all very flat from the home side and Livi were threatening from set-pieces.
Jordan Jones was introduced as Gerrard attempted to spark some life into his side, and the Northern Ireland international forced a fine fingertip save from Stryjek.
A goal from the visitors would have made for a nervy ending, but McGregor had little to contend with as Rangers eased to another three points.
Man of the match
What did we learn?
Rangers did the hard work early on to race into a two-goal lead. But, after an Old Firm victory and Europa League success over Standard Liege on Thursday, coupled with Gerrard making five changes, there was a lethargy about Rangers after those early goals as they coasted to the three points. However they were never really required to get out of second gear after getting their noses in front.
After four wins in a row, Livingston have now lost two on the bounce. They conceded cheap goals against Kilmarnock last week, and were undone far too easily for Joe Aribo’s opener.
What’s next?
With Celtic not in league action next week, Rangers could go nine points clear at the Premiership summit when they travel to Kilmarnock on Sunday, but they have a midweek Europa League tie at home to Lech Poznan of Poland first.
Livingston host Motherwell – who are level on points with them – on Saturday.
Player of the match
DefoeJermain Defoe
Rangers
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Squad number9Player nameDefoe
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Squad number2Player nameTavernier
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Squad number7Player nameHagi
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Squad number17Player nameAribo
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Squad number5Player nameHelander
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Squad number10Player nameDavis
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Squad number3Player nameBassey
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Squad number8Player nameJack
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Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
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Squad number6Player nameGoldson
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Squad number14Player nameKent
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Squad number37Player nameArfield
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Squad number25Player nameRoofe
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Squad number11Player nameItten
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Squad number22Player nameJones
Livingston
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Squad number10Player nameSibbald
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Squad number18Player nameHolt
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Squad number8Player namePittman
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Squad number12Player nameSerrano
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Squad number14Player nameMullin
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Squad number2Player nameDevlin
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Squad number6Player nameBartley
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Squad number27Player nameGuthrie
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Squad number3Player nameBrown
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Squad number9Player nameEmmanuel-Thomas
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Squad number11Player nameForrest
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Squad number25Player nameEfe Ambrose
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Squad number15Player namePoplatnik
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Squad number32Player nameStryjek
Line-ups
Rangers
- 1McGregor
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 5Helander
- 3Bassey
- 10Davis
- 8JackBooked at 89mins
- 17AriboSubstituted forArfieldat 75′minutes
- 7HagiSubstituted forJonesat 84′minutes
- 14KentSubstituted forIttenat 75′minutes
- 9DefoeSubstituted forRoofeat 64′minutes
Substitutes
- 11Itten
- 18Kamara
- 20Morelos
- 22Jones
- 25Roofe
- 26Balogun
- 31Barisic
- 33McLaughlin
- 37Arfield
Livingston
- 32Stryjek
- 25AmbroseSubstituted forMullinat 45′minutes
- 27GuthrieBooked at 68mins
- 3Brown
- 2Devlin
- 6Bartley
- 10SibbaldSubstituted forForrestat 67′minutes
- 12Serrano
- 8Pittman
- 9Emmanuel-ThomasSubstituted forPoplatnikat 85′minutes
- 18Holt
Substitutes
- 5Fitzwater
- 11Forrest
- 13Lokotsch
- 14Mullin
- 15Poplatnik
- 17Robinson
- 29Taylor-Sinclair
- 33Lawson
- 39Pignatiello
Live Text
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Match ends, Rangers 2, Livingston 0.
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Second Half ends, Rangers 2, Livingston 0.
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Attempt missed. Connor Goldson (Rangers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Tavernier with a cross following a corner.
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Attempt saved. Jordan Jones (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Connor Goldson.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Max Stryjek.
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Ryan Jack (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Ryan Jack (Rangers).
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Matej Poplatnik (Livingston) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Ryan Jack (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nicky Devlin (Livingston).
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Attempt saved. Cedric Itten (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Tavernier with a cross.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Scott Pittman.
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Substitution, Livingston. Matej Poplatnik replaces Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
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Substitution, Rangers. Jordan Jones replaces Ianis Hagi.
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James Tavernier (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Jason Holt (Livingston).
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Foul by Kemar Roofe (Rangers).
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Julien Serrano (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Julien Serrano (Livingston).
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Foul by Cedric Itten (Rangers).
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