Rangers 2-0 Livingston: Steven Gerrard’s team is six points clear in the Premiership

The Rangers moved six points away from Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable win over Livingston.

With Celtic losing points in Aberdeen, Steven Gerrard’s team made the most of it to increase their lead at the top of the league, having played one more game.

For Livingston, it is a second loss in a row and he remains ninth in the table.

Since the 0-0 draw between the pair in August, both have had little trouble scoring. The Rangers have scored 32 goals in 11 games, Livingston 17 in nine.

Each side also had a lot to be motivated about in this match. The Rangers were considering increasing their lead at the top, while Livingston knew a win would take them to the top six.

But Gary Holt’s men had to pay up front for a lack of focus in their own box. Ianis Hagi picked up the ball and fed to Jermain Defoe, whose shot was blocked, but Livi’s defense ignored the threat from Aribo, who scored without scoring from six yards.

As simple as the first was, the second for the Rangers was a touch of class from Defoe. The 38-year-old, in his first season opener, encountered James Tavernier’s perfect long ball and slipped a low shot, for the first time, passing Livingston goalkeeper Max Stryjek from the edge of the area.

Livingston had failed to score on the road just once this season, and they nearly elicited an instant response when Connor Goldson led a cross from his own post. Agonizing for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, the ball bounced off him and fell into the arms of goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Good deliveries in the area simply eluded Defoe and Tavernier when a bunt would have secured a third goal for the Rangers. But everything was very flat from the local side and Livi threatened from the set pieces.

Jordan Jones was introduced when Gerrard tried to bring his team to life, and the Northern Ireland international forced Stryjek to save with the tip of his finger.

A goal from the visitors would have caused a nervous finish, but McGregor had little to deal with as the Rangers dropped to another three points.

Man of the match

What did we learn?

Rangers did the hard work early on to rush to a two-goal lead. But, after an Old Firm win and Europa League success over Standard Liege on Thursday, along with Gerrard making five changes, there was a lethargy in the Rangers after those first goals as they slid to three points. However, they were never asked to get out of second gear after putting their noses to the front.

After four wins in a row, Livingston has now lost two on the rebound. They conceded cheap goals against Kilmarnock last week, and were undone too easily for Joe Aribo’s opener.

Whats Next?

With Celtic out of league action next week, the Rangers could be nine points clear at the Premiership summit when they travel to Kilmarnock on Sunday, but have a weekday Europa League draw at home to Lech. Poznan from Poland first.

Livingston hosts Motherwell, who is tied on points with them, on Saturday.