Now Livingston fashion a good chance.

Jamie Brandon picks out Joel Nouble at the back stick and the big striker plants his head on it, but it's comfortable enough for goalkeeper Kelle Roos.

Quite a few misplaced passes so far at Ibrox - from both teams - hence not much in the way of good chances so far.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen go close as Dante Polvara fires a shot inches over the bar.

It came after some quick passing and a wonderful diagonal pass from Leighton Clarkson.

The home side are on top so far.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

I tell you what, this game is only a few minutes old and there have been a few meaty challenges flying in already.

Image source, SNS

Kemar Roofe and Abdallah Sima leap to meet a James Tavernier cross and Roofe's flick takes it over Sima's head.

Good opening for the hosts.

Ouch!published at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2023

19:51 GMT 20 December 2023

Rangers 0-0 St Johnstone

Now it's St Johnstone's turn to take a sore one as Kieran Dowell and Sam Lammers sandwich Sven Sprangler, who is knocked over.

Free-kick Saints.

John Souttar got a nose bleed in that challenge and is off temporarily but looks okay to continue.

Image source, SNS

After a frantic and physical start, Aberdeen get the ball down and stroke it about a bit.

Then a ball in behind goes through to Livingston keeper Shamal George.

Ouch!published at 19:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2023

19:49 GMT 20 December 2023

Rangers 0-0 St Johnstone

Kieran Dowell's first contribution on his first Rangers start since late August is an attempted long pass from near halfway, but it goes straight through to St Johnstone goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.

Up the other end, Rangers defender John Souttar comes off worst from an aerial joust with Max Kucheriavyi and the medical team are on quickly to assess the Scotland international.

Image source, BBC Sport

Aberdeen XI: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, MacDonald, Jensen, McGarry, Shinnie, Clarkson, Polvara, Duk, Miovski.

Substitutes: Doohan, McGrath, Barron, Gueye, Hayes, Sokler, Morris, Duncan, Milne.

Livingston XI:George, Brandon, Nottingham, Obileye, Devlin, Penrice, Holt, Pittman, Shinnie, Nouble, Guthrie.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Montano, Parkes, Anderson, Stephen Kelly, Welch-Hayes, De Lucas, Lloyd, Lawal.

Image source, BBC Sport

Rangers XI: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Yilmaz, Lundstram, Lammers, Dowell, McCausland, Roofe, Sima.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Dessers, Cantwell, Matondo, Sterling, Wright, Balogun, Barisic, King.

St Johnstone XI: Mitov, Franczak, Olufunwa, Gordon, Considine, Robinson, Sprangler, Phillips, Smith, Kucheriavyi, Jaiyesimi.

Substitutes: Richards, Gallacher, McGowan, May, Kane, Clark, Carey, Turner-Cooke, Costelloe.

Away we go at Ibrox and Pittodrie.

The players are emerging out of both tunnels.

Almost time, folks.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

After a day of drizzle in the Granite City, it is a perfect night for a game of football.

No wind, no rain and really mild.

So much so, David Martindale didn't wear a jacket as he conducted his pre-match interview with me trackside.

That doesn't happen often in mid-December at Pittodrie.

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein tells BBC Sportsound: "[Rangers are] doing really well at the moment. I can't worry myself too much about what they are doing.

"Some people are needing just a little bit of a break, particularly [Graham] Carey and Ryan McGowan. I'm just trying to keep everybody fit.

"I feel that with the amount of games we've got coming up and this is a big pitch - we're going to be doing a lot of running - so I've decided to put fresher players in to enable us to do our running.

"The shape will change for a number of different things and we'll see what happens."

Image source, SNS

Rangers manager Philippe Clement tells BBC Sportsound: "There were only celebrations after the [Viaplay Cup win]. The last few days it was back to business.

"If you feel too confident, then you become sloppy, then you become lazy, then you make mistakes.

"We have 12 games in 37 games so it's impossible to do it with 11 or 14 players.

"[Kieran Dowell is] fit and healthy, he has good technical qualities. He can do an interesting part in the job in the midfield. He can play an important part in the game we want to play.

"I want to keep our stride. There's going to be a moment that we're going to lose points but it doesn't mean we lose our momentum. I want a consistent team, not a team who are looking for a momentum.

"[St Johnstone are] a really good, structured team. When [Craig Levein] came in, you saw the difference."

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland in Ibrox

It’s a damp and chilly night in Govan, but the Rangers fans will be hoping a strong performance from their team will keep them warm this evening.

Philippe Clement says it’s important the team “keep their rhythm" as they attempt to creep even closer to Celtic.

Saints boss Craig Levein insists his team can pose Rangers a problem and says their system may be fluid throughout the game as they aim to continue their recent revival.

Image source, SNS/BBC

• Rangers have only lost one of their last 19 meetings with St Johnstone in all competitions (W14 D4), a 1-2 away defeat in November 2022.
• St Johnstone have only won one of their last 39 league visits to Rangers (D4 L34), a 3-1 victory in December 2017 under Tommy Wright.
• Rangers have won eight of their last nine league games (D1), scoring 23 goals and conceding just three in this period.
• St Johnstone are winless in eight away league matches (D4 L4), last going longer without a win on the road in December 2019 (16).
• Rangers’ James Tavernier has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last nine Scottish Premiership appearances (seven goals, three assists). The right back could provide an assist in three successive appearances in the competition for the first time since November 2021 (five in a row).

For St Johnstone to prevent Rangers moving within two points of Celtic, they'll need to do something they haven't done in over four years - take a point from Ibrox.

The Perth side, who are yet to win a league game on the road this term, did win in Govan in 2021, but that came in their run to winning the Scottish Cup in 2021.

This time they'll be facing a buoyed Rangers who won the other domestic cup competition on Sunday.

That hard-fought victory at Hampden will fuel Philippe Clement's men with belief this can now become a really memorable season.

Image source, SNS

Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland his side being in games isn't much consolation when they haven't won in eight.

"We can't take any solace in that at all," he said. "We have been unlucky in games, last week we have the chance from 12 yards and don't hit the target.

"Week before we were unlucky at Hibs, and against St Mirren the week before. But there are only so many times I can talk about being in games and being unlucky.

"We are where we are, it's a collective fault. But I keep saying we've got enough in the changing room to keep us in the Premiership.

"For me it'll be my biggest achievement personally if I can keep Livingston in the Premiership."