Livingston probably did not deserve to be on the end of a four-goal defeat but struggled to create at Ibrox.
Andrew Shinnie twice went close for the visitors at 1-0 down, forcing Jack Butland into saves.
Image source, SNSJose Cifuentes was denied a first Rangers goal after VAR ruled his strike out for offside but his overall performance and first start for the club was assured.
The midfielder drifted into wide areas to support his team-mates and provided some teasing deliveries to put Livingston under pressure.
Image source, SNSJose Cifuentes (number 15) thought he had scored Rangers' second goal
Jose Cifuentes makes his first Rangers start after a brief cameo from the bench against Servette on Wednesday. The Ecuadorian takes over from Ryan Jack in midfield.
There's one change to the defence with Leon Balogun replacing Connor Goldson. Goldson only recently returned from an extended period out and neither he nor Jack are included among the substitutes. Rabbi Matondo and Leon King return to the squad.
Just the one change for Livingston following last week's draw with Aberdeen, with Stephen Kelly in for the benched Kurtis Guthrie.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Barisic, Raskin, Cifuentes, Cantwell, Lammers, Dessers, Danilo.
Substitutes: McCrorie, Lundstram, Hagi, Matondo, Sima, Dowell, Sterling, Roofe, King.
Livingston: George, Devlin, Obileye, De Lucas, Brandon, Shinnie, Holt, Montano, Sangare, Nouble, Kelly.
Substitutes: Hamilton, Nottingham, MacKay, Ledingham, Guthrie, Penrice, Bradley, Parkes, Boyes.
Rangers will be without one or two players with bumps and bruises. Ridvan Yilmaz, Ben Davies and Tom Lawrence missed the Champions League win over Servette.
Livingston have doubts over Kurtis Guthrie (knock), Scott Pittman (ribs) and Bruce Anderson (head), while new signing Samson Lawal is unavailable for selection.
Livingston have announced the signing of Samson Lawal from Nigerian side Katsina United on a three-year deal.
The Nigeria U20 international will not be eligible to play this weekend's league fixture against Rangers, but could make his debut in the Viaplay Cup against Ayr United.
"I’m excited as to what Samson will bring to the group of players we currently have here at the club," manager David Martindale said.
“He has played a number of positions in his short career – 7, 11, 8 and 10 – and most recently with ourselves in a couple of bounce games as a 6 and he was fantastic there too.
“He’s a very versatile footballer who has not long turned 19 and I genuinely believe there is a huge amount of development still to come from Samson."
Image source, Getty ImagesLawal was part of the Nigeria side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 U20 World Cup
Rangers’ Borna Barisic created more chances than any other player on MD1 with five. Since the start of last season, only three players have created more chances in the division than Barisic (73).
If Livingston avoid defeat against Rangers, it will be the first time since the 2019-20 season they’ve avoided defeat in their first two Scottish Premiership fixtures of the season.
Rangers haven’t lost their opening two matches of a league season since 1989-90, when they lost to St. Mirren and Hibernian under Graeme Souness.
Livingston have never won in 22 previous visits to Rangers in all competitions (D3 L19); this is the most the Gers have faced a side in competitive matches at home without ever losing.
Rangers are unbeaten in 17 meetings with Livingston in all competitions (W15 D2) since a 0-1 defeat in September 2018 under Steven Gerrard.
Livingston travel to Ibrox on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership as they look to upset the odds.
Would you make any changes from the side that drew with Aberdeen?
Pick your Livingston XI here.
Stuart Barrie, Livingston fan
It may not have been the most cultured game but I really enjoyed the opening league fixture of the season against Aberdeen. The Viaplay Cup games have been a bit like diet drinks - good but not the same.
Both teams rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to pepper this game with lots of intensity and effort. I have to credit the 4000 or so Aberdeen fans for their part in making it a great atmosphere too.
The selection of Curtis Guthrie raised a few eyebrows amongst Livi fans, as it's fair to say he’s had an inauspicious start to his career at the Tony Mac. He’s got a bit of work to convince sections of the Livi support he’s a starter. He did play well and caused lots of problems, particularly for Nicky Devlin, returning to Livingston for his first game in the psychedelic colours of the rather smart new Aberdeen shirt.
Last season we would probably have lost this game but the fight and the desire that have characterised David Martindale’s time were clearly there to see. We deserved a point against the third best team last season, perhaps more as we were the better team in the second half for me.
The only negative from the game was a horrible-looking injury to Bruce Anderson. It looked a sore one and we are all hoping he recovers quickly to get back on the pitch soon.
Liam McLeod and Kevin Thomson review the weekend's Scottish Premiership results, react to the European draws and pay tribute to James McArthur who has today retired from football.
Give the podcast a listen here.
Image source, BBC SportAn impressive 133,586 supporters attended matches across the four SPFL top divisions to mark the start of the 2023/24 League campaign.
It was the second-highest opening weekend league attendances since the SPFL was formed in 2013, and the highest in five seasons when 134,397 attended matches at the start of season 2018/19.
The largest crowd of the opening weekend was at Celtic Park on Saturday, where 58,772 fans witnessed the champions defeat Ross County 4-2.
A total of 17,586 supporters watched St Mirren’s dramatic late 3-2 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday, while 9,256 fans were inside The BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park, as Kilmarnock defeated Rangers 1-0 the previous day.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “It’s great to see such strong attendances at games across the country.
“This weekend’s strong crowds continue to build on last season’s positive trends, which included five million fans attending SPFL matches for the first time ever, and Scotland enjoying the highest per capita support across European football.
“It’s a further reminder of why Scottish football fans are renowned across the world for their incredible support.”
Image source, SNS58,772 fans witnessed the unfurling of the Scottish Premiership flag at Celtic Park
Image source, BBC SportWe asked for your views of Livingston's opening day Scottish Premiership draw at home to Aberdeen and the response was short and sweet!
Logan: Good start. Keep it up.
Livingston and Aberdeen started their Premiership campaigns with a goalless draw
Image source, BBC SportWere you at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Saturday or following the match from elsewhere?
No matter what, we want to hear from you.
Livingston manager David Martindale: "All across the park, the boys were magnificent.
"It was a physical game of football played at a decent intensity.
"I'm really proud of the players. I have a lot of respect for Aberdeen and for Barry, since he took over they've been brilliant so we had to compete and match -up and I think we done that incredibly well.
"To come out of the game with a clean sheet, that's the most pleasing aspect for me.
"We had a couple of opportunities, but neither goalkeeper really had a proper save to make.
"It was a typical game of Scottish football."
Image source, SNSAmy Canavan, BBC Sport Scotland
Hopefully both sides have got this out of their system early on in the season and the game is never referred to again.
Livingston frustrated their visitors, and that's always to be expected at the Tony Macaroni. But David Martindale's side offered little signs of hope of their own.
Andrew Shinnie was bright in spells, while Bruce Anderson offered a different option before he was carried off.
That'll be one of Martindale's many concerns from this afternoon.
Image source, SNSCristian Montano topped the Livi charts for shots, shots inside the box and touches inside the oppostion box, so in an otherwise uneventful affair, this will do it for the player of the match tag.
Livingston manager David Martindale makes four changes from the side that defeated League 2 side Clyde 1-0 in the Viaplay Cup group stage.
Defender Luiyi de Lucas, midfielders Jamie Brandon and Mo Sangare and formidable striker Joel Nouble return.
Goalscorer Bruce Anderson drops to the bench alongside winger Dan MacKay, who joined yesterday on-loan from Hibernian.
Livingston: George, Devlin, Obileye, de Lucas, Montano, Holt, Shinnie, Brandon, Sangare, Nouble, Guthrie.
Substitutes: Hamilton, Parkes, Boyes, Penrice, Pittman, Kelly, Bradley, MacKay, Anderson.
Aberdeen: Roos, Morris, Devlin, Rubezic, MacKenzie, Hayes, Shinnie, Clarkson, Polvara, Duk, Miovski.
Substitutes: Doohan, Barron, Sokler, Besuijen, Stewart, Milne, Dadia, Marshall, Bavidge.
Follow our live coverage here.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSLivingston goalkeeper Shamal George is suspended while Dan MacKay could go into David Martindale’s squad after signing on loan from Hibernian.
Liverpool loan player Rhys Williams will miss out on his Aberdeen debut because of a back injury but fellow centre-back Angus MacDonald is battling to feature after a knee problem.
