Rangers vs Livingston Betting Pick | Scottish League

Scottish League

2021-07-31 - Rangers vs Livingston

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Rangers v Livingston
Football: Scottish Premiership
Saturday 31st July 2021 - Kick Off 1:30pm
This game is live on TV

Rangers

When Steven Gerrard took over as Rangers manager in June 2018 it was an appointment considered a little risky by a club that was desperate to close the gap on rivals Celtic. In each season there has been an improvement at Ibrox and it culminated in Rangers winning the Scottish Premiership last season and looking like strong favourites to retain the title again this time around.

The manager has to be given a lot of credit for where Rangers are now as they get set to open the Scottish Premiership season in front of their returning fans. It has also led to strong speculation that Steven Gerrard will be the next Liverpool manager whenever his former club are next in the market, but Gerrard himself is fully focused on what is an important month for Rangers who will be desperate to reach the Champions League Group Stage.

Rangers will get their Champions League Qualifiers underway in the Third Qualifying Round, but the focus will be on the League opener as they look to build on the success of last season. They are unbeaten in 9 games in all competitions in normal time, but Rangers will be frustrated with a Penalty Shoot Out defeat to St Johnstone in the FA Cup in that time. Rangers have won 5 in a row at Ibrox in all competitions.

Livingston

Heavy investment in the early Livingston years saw this club quickly rise through the Scottish Divisions and they even won a League Cup in 2004. Things turned sour for the club for a long time, but Livingston are about to enjoy their fourth consecutive season back in the Scottish Premiership and they have finished in the top six in each of the last two seasons.

A first half goal was enough for St Johnstone to prevent Livingston winning the League Cup again last season, but the feeling is that the club have been overachieving and there is a worry that they are going to step back this time around. Some of the key players in the squad have moved on and Livingston did not finish the last campaign with a lot of momentum.

Livingston did not win any of their last 8 games in all competitions to close out last season and they were beaten in 4 Premiership games in succession before the goalless draw with St Johnstone. They have progressed from the League Cup Group Stage, but an away defeat at League One Alloa Athletic underlines the potential vulnerability of this current squad.

Head to Head

Livingston and Rangers played out a goalless draw last August, but it was Rangers who won the remaining 3 League meetings between the teams.

The sole fixture at Ibrox was won 2-0 by Rangers who have beaten Livingston 7 times in a row at home.

Prediction

There is a potential distraction of the Champions League Third Qualifying Round First Leg that could make Rangers vulnerable, but Steven Gerrard will be looking for his squad to lay down a marker on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership season.

Some of the pre-season performances have been strong and Rangers have dominated Livingston over the last couple of seasons.

The underdog has rarely rolled over, but Rangers have kept 7 clean sheets in a row against Livingston and this squad has enough attacking depth to make sure they earn the victory.

Livingston have been playing competitive football in the Scottish League Cup, but Rangers should be ready to go with the Champions League beginning this week and I think they will prove too strong with a professional performance to open the defence of their title.