Livingston vs Rangers. Scottish Premiership.
Tony Macaroni ArenaAttendance9,028.
Sunday 27 January 2019 19:46, UK
Rangers moved up to second in the Scottish Premiership following a 3-0 win at Livingston.
Ryan Jack opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, albeit with the help of a terrible mistake by Livingston goalkeeper Liam Kelly.
Second-half goals from Ryan Kent (48) and top-scorer Alfredo Morelos (74) then sealed the win for Steven Gerrard's side, who are now once again three points behind leaders Celtic, although they have played a game more than their Glasgow rivals.
Livingston, meanwhile, are eighth in the table having not won any of their last seven matches.
The visitors arrived at the Tony Macaroni Arena having lost 2-1 to Kilmarnock in midweek and in need of the three points to keep pace with champions Celtic at the top of the table.
They almost made the breakthrough 21 minutes in after good persistence by Daniel Candeias on halfway, with the Portuguese winning the ball back before releasing Morelos with an exquisite through ball.
The Colombian was unlucky not to score, but his strike hit the outside of the post with just Kelly to beat, only for the former Rangers 'keeper to literally then hand the visitors the opening goal.
There appeared little danger when Jack lined up a shot some 25 yards out, only for Kelly to somehow let the ball squirm under his body as Rangers led at the break.
That advantage was doubled soon after the interval as James Tavernier again broke clear down the right and, after Kelly kept out Morelos' close-range shot, there was Kent to rifle the ball home.
Rangers sealed the win when Scott Arfield released Morelos down the right side of the box and as Kelly raced off his line to close the forward down, he rounded the 'keeper before finishing into the empty net from an acute angle to secure just a third win at Livingston in their last 10 league visits.
The forward was a threat to the Livingston defence all afternoon long with his constant running and closing down of the home side's players.
As well as his well-taken goal - his 13th in the league so far this season and 11th in his last 14 appearances - the Colombian also had a key role to play in Rangers' crucial second goal just after half-time.
And if Rangers are to chase down Celtic, then they will need to keep the league's top scorer fit between now and the end of the season.
Rangers travel to Cowdenbeath for their rearranged Scottish Cup fourth-round tie on Wednesday night, before hosting bottom-of-the-table St Mirren on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Livingston face a trip to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, with that game also kicking off at 3pm next Saturday.
