Prediction: Livingston vs Rangers

Verdict: Total Goals Over 2.5

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: 888sport

Rangers will be looking to maintain their strong start to the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership campaign when they take on Livingston away from home at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Sunday. Steven Gerrard’s side have won all three of their opening league fixtures, and the Gers will head into the match – slated to start at 4:30pm UK time on Sunday – as favourites. The home team have picked up just one point from their first three games and are showing relegation form at the moment.

Livingston

Livingston have made a disappointing start to the season and have collected just one point from a possible nine. Manager Gary Holt will be disappointed with his team’s performances and results, especially the way they collapsed against Hibernian in their last home game. However, the way Livingston performed against going behind twice against Motherwell in midweek was encouraging. The visiting team came from 1-0 and 2-1 down to make it 2-2 and earned a valuable point from the Scottish Premiership encounter.

Team news

Ciaron Brown suffered an early injury against Motherwell and had to be substituted after just 19 minutes. The 22-year-old defender is unlikely to be risked against the in-form team in Scotland and will probably miss out.

Rangers

Rangers have started the season in stunning fashion and have a 100% record in the Scottish Premiership. Although the Gers opened the season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Aberdeen away from home, they have since hammered St. Mirren and St Johnstone – both 3-0 and both at Ibrox. What is very encouraging is that the Gers could and should have scored more goals in both of their matches.

With Celtic’s games in midweek and this weekend postponed after Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo broke quarantine rules, Rangers have a great chance to further increase the gap between themselves and their bitter Old Firm rivals. The Hoops have picked up four points from two matches, and if the Gers win on Sunday, then it will increase the pressure on them.

Of course, it is early days, and having won the Scottish Premiership title for the past nine seasons, Celtic will have all the experience in the world to deal with pressure. However, Rangers can set an early marker in the title and send a strong message to Neil Lennon’s side if they make it four wins out four in the league on Sunday.

Team News

Rangers manager Gerrard has said that Leon Balogun will miss the match against Livingston this weekend. The 32-year-old central defender, who joined the Gers on a free transfer this summer, suffered an injury against St. Johnstone on Wednesday evening.

Kemar Roofe, who moved to Rangers from Anderlecht in the summer transfer window, is still getting his match fitness back and is not going to start, while Jermain Defoe is still on the sidelines and will not feature.

Key Factors to Consider

• Rangers have won all three of their league matches this season without conceding any goal.
  The Gers have had as many as 58 shots in their three games already.
  Rangers have won their last six matches against Livingston, conceding just once in the process.
  Livingston striker Lyndon Dykes has been linked with Rangers this summer.
  Holt’s side finished fifth last season, the first time they have ended up in the top six since 2001-02.

Conclusion

Rangers will head into the match against Livingston as strong favourite, and it is hard to see the Gers drop any point even though they are the visiting team. The Ibrox club are scoring goals for fun, and they are likely to score two or three. Alfredo Morelos is back in form, and the Colombia international striker will be looking to add to his tally.

Verdict: Total Goals Over 2.5

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: 888sport