Rangers v Livingston betting tips: Gers unlikely to be caught cold
Preview and odds for Saturday’s Scottish Premiership match
Steven Gerrard’s men begin the defence of their Scottish Premiership title at Ibrox as we look at some potential Rangers v Livingston betting tips.
Rangers were the last defending champions to fail to win their opening game of the season while Livingston last began a top-flight campaign with a victory 17 years ago.
The first match of the 2021-22 Scottish Premiership season takes place at Ibrox on Saturday and is live on Sky Sports, with a 1.30pm kick-off.
Rangers v Livingston match odds
Rangers will kick off a season as defending champions for the first time since 2011-12.
The Scottish giants have won their last nine season openers, with Celtic responsible for each top-flight title from 2012-13 to 2020-21.
Rangers are favourites at 2/9 to beat Livingston and continue that trend.
A scoreless draw with Brighton last weekend and a win over Real Madrid 24 hours later has fans excited ahead of the big kick-off against Livingston.
Those friendlies have given Gerrard a selection headache as he has bought quality over quantity this summer, which should strike fear into their rivals.
John Lundstram is a smart piece of business, the midfielder arriving on a free transfer from Sheffield United.
Zambian striker Fashion Sakala looked sharp and opened his account against Real Madrid after arriving on a pre-contract from KV Oostende and is 10/11 to score at any time against Livingston.
On paper, Nigeria midfielder Nnamdi Ofoborh’s arrival from Bournemouth also looks a solid signing – once he gets medical clearance.
Rangers are 2/5 to retain their title, with Celtic second favourites at 13/8.
The Rangers v Livingston betting tips reveal that Livingston have lost three of their last four top-flight opening games, drawing the other, including a 3-0 defeat at Rangers in 2005-06.
Davie Martindale (pictured above) has a tough start to the new campaign and Livingston are 16/1 to beat Rangers.
Livingston squeezed through to the Premier Sports Cup last-16 as one of three best runners-up with Saturday’s 3-1 win over Cowdenbeath.
They also beat Arbroath and Brechin earlier in the month, their only defeat in five coming in a 2-1 reverse at Alloa.
It is 7/10 that three or more goals will be scored in total.
Rangers v Livingston head-to-head
The Rangers v Livingston betting tips stats show Rangers have won eight of their last nine league meetings with Livingston, drawing the other, since a 1-0 away defeat in September 2018 – their first such match against them under Gerrard.
There has been just one draw between them in the last 13 meetings and it is 5/1 this clash will end in a stalemate.
Livingston have failed to score in each of their last six league matches against Rangers (D1 L5). It is 8/15 that Rangers keep a clean sheet this time.
Indeed, Livingston have managed just 33 shots across those games with only seven on target.
The visitors are 17/5 to win or draw the match on the Double Chance market and are 8/1 to keep a clean sheet.
Rangers v Livingston team news
Plenty of players impressed for Rangers against Real Madrid but Joe Aribo and Kemar Roofe were nowhere to be seen.
They have missed valuable preparation time and it is thought the pair have been self-isolating due to Covid-19, although the club have remained tight-lipped over their ongoing absence.
Colombia international Alfredo Morelos won’t be in a position to start, either.
He was given time off after the Copa America and will be forced to self-isolate upon his return to Glasgow and may also miss Rangers’ Champions League clash next week.
Morelos has already been forced to self-isolate this summer after contracting the virus during the Copa America build-up.
Livingston, who are 25/1 to win to nil, are still feeling the effects of a Covid-19 outbreak.
Craig Sibbald and Jason Holt are back in action but still being monitored closely after catching the virus and Josh Mullin and Alan Forrest got out of self-isolation on Saturday.
That aside, Martindale has no major injury concerns and new signing Andrew Shinnie, who arrives from Charlton, could make his Livingston debut.
Rangers v Livingston key battles
Much depends on how well the Livingston defence manages to cope and goalkeeper Max Stryjek could be in for a busy afternoon.
Martindale has made a few summer signings, including defenders James Penrice (Partick Thistle), Sean Kelly (Falkirk), Ayo Obileye (Queen of the South) and Tom Parkes (Exeter).
It could take them time to bed in and Rangers are 11/2 to win 3-0 in the Rangers v Livingston betting tips.
View the latest Scottish Premiership odds
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
