Well, that didn't lasted long...

The James Tavernier centre-back experiment is over. The Rangers captain is back in his natural right-back position, with Calvin Bassey moving to centre-back and Nathan Patterson switching to left-back from the right.

Both sides are yet to create any clear-cut chances at Fir Park, but Motherwell have had more of the ball so far.

Liam Donnelly and Dean Cornelius are linking play well in the middle of the park for the hosts.

United midfielder Adrian Sporle whips in a stunning ball.

The ball ends up finding its way to teenage midfielder Chris Mochrie, who has a close-range finish vitally blocked.

Promising start from the away side.

County are the side who have started the better in West Lothian, but no chances so far. Visiting winger Regan Charles-Cook looks lively though.

First real sight of goal comes for the depleted visitors.

James Tavernier is beat too easy by Adrian Sporle before the ball breaks to former Rangers forward Nicky Clark on the edge of the box.

The United striker has a pop, but goalkeeper Allan McGregor is down to his right to gather.

Ouch!published at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2021

15:05 GMT 18 December 2021

Motherwell 0-0 St Johnstone

Sean Goss takes a high boot to the head from Saints wing-back Shaun Rooney just moments after kick-off.

The midfielder takes some time returning to his feet but is okay to carry on.

Kick-off was being delayed at Dens Park while referee Willie Collum waited for someone to clear a blue smoke bomb from the pitch, but it is under way now.

Early indications from Ibrox is it's captain James Tavernier playing at centre-back with Connor Goldson.

Nathan Patterson is at right-back, with Calvin Bassey on the opposite side.

Interested to see how this pans out...

They've already been playing a couple of minutes in Kilmarnock, but everyone else is just starting if they are not in Ayrshire time!

The teams are coming out onto fog-bound or sun-kissed pitches depending on where they are around the country...

Dundee are shorn with a number of players through indiscipline or injury, but at least they still have Danny Mullen.

The striker has scored in each of his last three Premiership home games and the last Dark Blues player to score in more consecutive home appearances in the competition was Kane Hemmings from December 2015 to February 2016 with a run of five.

Livingston will be watching Regan Charles-Cook closely.

The winger has been directly involved in 56% of County’s nine away league goals this season, scoring four and assisting one.

The last Staggies player to score more than five away goals in a single top-flight season was Craig Curran back in 2017-18 with five.

Resurgent Alfredo Morelos will certainly be a marked man by United.

The Colombia striker has scored in each of his last three league games

Only twice previously has he enjoyed a longer run of scoring appearances in the Premiership – seven matches from October-December 2018 and five matches from January-March 2021.

Livingston manager David Martindale is calling for the football authorities to get moving on a plan for the surging Omicron variant.

"Inaction's going to lead to problems," he tells BBC Scotland's Sportsound.

"We need to get our heads together on how we get through this.

"For anybody to think we're not facing a Covid Tsunami in the next two days to three weeks, their heads are in the sand.

"I genuinely think over the next three or four weeks - there's going to be chaos."

St Johnstone will be hoping that history prevails over form as they visit Fir Park.

Callum Davidson's faltering double cup winners from last season have dropped to the bottom of the table after five defeats in a row and six without a win.

However, Saints are unbeaten against Well in four meetings, winning on their last two visits.

Whatever happens at Fir Park, you probably shouldn't expect many goals given Saints' Premiership matches have featured fewer goals and fewer shots than any other side in the Premiership this season.

In saying that, there is almost bound to be one given there has NEVER been a 0-0 draw between the two sides at Fir Park!

Who will get most goals if there are any? Thumbs up for Well, thumbs down for Saints...

If you look at the form book and the state of their preparations, there should only be one winner at Ibrox.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has hit the ground running as Rangers manager, with his side going seven unbeaten, winning six of them, since he sat in the stand watching them lose to Hibs in the League Cup semi-final before he was officially appointed.

Only Lyon and Malmo in European action have left Ibrox with a victory this season, while United arrive having suffered three straight defeats and going four without a win

Covid-hit United did beat the league leaders 1-0 at Tannadice in August but have lost four goals in each of their last two visits to Ibrox.

Will Rangers win to stretch their lead to seven points? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no...

Image source, SNS

They are still in the relegation mix, but both Livingston and Ross County are on the up form-wise.

David Martindale's Livi have won two in a row after three straight defeats and six without a win, while Malky Mackay's visitors were within seconds of holding Celtic in midweek to extend their unbeaten run to five games.

Livi, meanwhile, are unbeaten in five meetings with County, winning 3-2 in Dingwall in October and have beaten the Dingwall side on their last four visits to Almondvale since their last win there in April 2012.

Will Liv make it three wins in a row? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no...