Livingston 0-3 Rangers: The champions win and remain undefeated in the Scottish Premiership

The Rangers are just one game away from ending the undefeated Scottish Premiership campaign after blowing past Livingston.

Ryan Kent finished one or two with Alfred Morelos tapping on the other side of the visitors and Hagi hit in their third.

Scott Pittman and Jaze Kabia hit the tree at Livia’s best opportunities.

Rangers Steven Gerrard will receive the Premiership trophy after Saturday’s home match against Aberdeen. Livingston is still competing to jump over the next opponent St. Johnstone in fifth place, with level points, and the Saints two goals better.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas worried the Rangers in the early stages, creating space for Josh Mullin to deny salvation to Jon McLaughlin.

Hagi and Kent fired a shot next to Livingston’s goal before the most controversial moment of the first half.

Kemar Roofe spilled the ball for Hagi behind Livingston’s defense, and the Romanian played the ball before he and Stryjek collided. Referee Don Robertson considered it a foul, despite protests because Hagi hit the ball wide.

Tavernier, having missed his last three penalties, stepped up and switched to the goalkeeper’s right side – his 19th goal of the season.

And the club captain was involved in the second goal, his ball over the top found by Kent. The winger tried to fire for Morelos, but violently forced the attacker to receive the return ball for the end.

Livingston was two inches away from halving the deficit on two occasions. Pittman’s shot rang the crossbar and Rangers keeper Jon McLaughlin forced the ball under the pressure of the chase.

Then Kabia’s replacement was given their best chance after a deflected cross by Nicky Devlin, a striker who hit only the outside of the left post.

Joe Aribo tested Stryjek moments later, and Kabia was out of the goal when he jumped the second delivery of Devlin at the other end.

Rangers scored from a swift counterattack from the left, Roofe’s deputy Cedric Itten, who had a reckless finish by Hagi.

Man of the match – James Tavernier

What have we learned?

Livingston’s 14-season unbeaten streak was the catalyst for their first-half finish, but they won only once since that series ended in early February.

Emmanuel-Thomas has a commanding presence in attack, but he needs more support from wide areas if Livingston wants to end the season at its peak.

Amid injuries and substitutions, the Rangers counted just six substitutes, and midfielder Aribo played in an unknown left-back role.

He looked far from the place, but visitors deliberately tricked the attack from the other side with Tavernier, Kent and Hagi – a tactic that stretched the hosts.

What did they say?

Livingston manager David Martindale: “We were disappointed. I’m pretty happy with the effect in the spells in the game. The Rangers were far more clinical in our lodge.

“We had more than enough chances to get something out of the game. We hit the crossbar, hit the tripod, we had another chance.”

What’s next?

Rangers completes the campaign against Aberdeen on Saturday (12:30 BST), while Livingston on Saturday (12:30) plays their last away game away at St Johnstone.