Our prediction for this Scottish Premiership match:
Rangers start their title defence on Saturday as they take on Livingston in the first game of the new Premiership campaign. The Gers impressed in the 2020/21 season, with the team finishing the process without defeat, and it is no wonder the bookies see them as favourites to win the trophy. Since Rangers outplayed Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly at the weekend, they are likely to roll over Livingston at their Ibrox Stadium.
New signings Junior Fashion Sakala and John Lundstram are both pushing for a start. The Lions, on the other hand, did well to beat Cowdenbeath 3-1 in the League Cup, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry in Saturday’s football match. In their last meeting in the Scottish top flight Rangers defeated Livingston 3-0, and we believe that the history is going to repeat itself.
Highlighted Player (Jon McLaughlin):
Jon McLaughlin is a goalkeeper who plays for Sunderland. The 188-cm-tall shoot-stopper played for non-League sides Harrogate Railway Athletic and Harrogate Town in the past, but in 2008 he joined Bradford City. After spending six years at Valley Parade, McLaughlin signed a contract with Burton Albion and he has been playing for the Pirelli Stadium outfit ever since.
Jon McLaughlin made 45 appearances for Burton Albion in both 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons and he has established his self as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper. He was producing scintillating displays for Burton in the 2015/2016 League One campaign and, no doubt, he helped the team secure promotion to the Championship.
Jon McLaughlin was born on 9 September, 1987 in Edinburgh, but he has yet to make his debut for the Scotland national team. Speaking of his honours, the goalkeeper won the Football League Two play-offs with Bradford City in the 2012/2013 season.
Highlighted Team (Livingston):
Nicknamed the Lions, Livingstone are the Scottish Premier League club founded during the Second World War (1943) under the name of Ferranti Amateurs. Livingston welcome their opponents at Almondvale Stadium, the venue with the capacity of 9,512.
The Lions are known for their amber home kit, with the team wearing white when playing on the travels. Livingston have yet to win the Scottish Premier League title, but they did remarkably well to go all the way in the Scottish League Cup in the 2003/2004 season. The Lions recorded a 2-0 win over Hibernian in the title game played at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Livingston registered their biggest win against Stranraer (8-0) in August 2012 in the first round of the Scottish League Cup, while their most massive defeat came on December 14, 1974, as they were beaten 8-0 by Hamilton. Legendary Premier League coach Paul Lambert is regarded as one of the club’s most notable players.