The Scottish Premiership title race is reaching a fever pitch, and all eyes are on Almondvale Stadium this Sunday as Rangers travel to face bottom-placed Livingston. With the stakes sky-high and both teams desperate for points—albeit for vastly different reasons—this encounter promises drama, tension, and perhaps a few surprises along the way.
Rangers, sitting second in the league with 55 points from 27 matches, are hot on the heels of leaders Hearts. The gap at the top currently stands at three points after Hearts’ latest win, but crucially, Rangers have a game in hand. Their recent form has been nothing short of explosive, racking up 18 goals in their last five matches. The highlight of that run came just last weekend, when they toppled Hearts 4-2 at Ibrox, with Youssef Chermiti netting a memorable hat-trick. That result not only boosted Rangers’ title credentials but also sent a jolt of confidence through the squad and their supporters alike.
For Livingston, the reality is stark. They are rooted to the bottom of the table with just 12 points from 27 games, nine points adrift of second-bottom Kilmarnock, and the specter of relegation looms large. It’s a tough situation for new manager Marvin Bartley, who took the reins on February 1 after David Martindale moved upstairs to a sporting director role. Bartley, previously an assistant, is tasked with engineering a great escape, but with a 27-game winless run in all competitions and the club’s last victory coming way back in August, the odds are firmly stacked against them.
Adding to Livingston’s woes are a string of injury problems. Key players such as Connor McLennan, Scott Arfield, Aidan Denholm, Joshua Zimmerman, and Samson Lawal remain sidelined, while Babacar Fati is a doubt with a thigh injury. In a bid to inject some life into the squad, Bartley has turned to the transfer market, bringing in Barrie McKay and Joel Nouble on short-term deals. Both could feature for the first time against Rangers, and their experience and attacking flair are seen as crucial to the club’s survival bid. Bartley himself is optimistic, stating that McKay and Nouble will have “a huge part to play” in the coming weeks.
On the other side of the pitch, Rangers have their own injury headaches. Head coach Danny Rohl confirmed he would be forced into changes, explaining, “We have to change some players. Not that I want to, I have to. We have small injuries but I cannot go into too much detail today.” While Rohl was tight-lipped about specifics, it was confirmed that Bailey Rice, Connor Barron, Derek Cornelius, and Max Aarons remain unavailable. The latest team news revealed two enforced changes from the side that beat Hearts: James Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama come in for Dujon Sterling and Ryan Naderi, the latter fit enough for the bench after a midweek niggle. Sterling, meanwhile, misses out entirely.
Midfielder Tochi Chukwuani captured the team’s mood ahead of the match, saying, “The mood is good. It was a great win at the weekend, and the atmosphere was really fantastic from the fans. We could really feel the energy and the high spirit from the fans. We will try and use this high energy against Livingston and get the three points. The main thing is not to get carried away and try to keep our heads down. When we do the work, the work will show on the pitch.”
Looking at the predicted and confirmed lineups, Rangers will field Jack Butland in goal, with a backline of James Tavernier (captain), John Souttar, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Tuur Rommens. The midfield sees Nicolas Raskin and Tochi Chukwuani, with Andreas Skov Olsen, Mikey Moore, and Djeidi Gassama supporting Youssef Chermiti up front. Livingston’s starting XI includes Jerome Prior in goal, Ryan McGowan (captain), Scott Pittman, Robbie Muirhead, Lewis Smith, Daniel Finlayson, Emmanuel Danso, Brooklyn Kabongolo, Macaulay Tait, Cristian Montano, and Danny Wilson. New signings Barrie McKay and Joel Nouble are named among the substitutes, ready to make an impact if called upon.
Historically, Rangers have dominated this fixture, winning their last three meetings against Livingston in the league. The most recent results read: Rangers 2-1 Livingston, Livingston 1-2 Rangers, and Rangers 3-0 Livingston. The odds, it seems, are firmly in the visitors’ favor, and even the most ardent Livingston supporters acknowledge the challenge ahead. As one preview put it, “Even a point against the Glasgow giants would be celebrated inside the Almondvale Stadium as Livingston know that it will be tough to stop a team of Rangers’ quality.”
But football is nothing if not unpredictable. Livingston are expected to adopt a high-pressing approach, hoping to disrupt Rangers’ rhythm and make life uncomfortable for their illustrious guests. Skipper Ryan McGowan will marshal the defense, using his experience and physical presence to try and keep Chermiti and company at bay. Barrie McKay, if introduced, could provide a creative spark, especially given his familiarity with the Rangers setup from his previous spell at Ibrox.
For Rangers, the focus will be on maintaining momentum and keeping the pressure on Hearts at the top. Youssef Chermiti, fresh from his hat-trick heroics, will be keen to add to his tally, while James Tavernier’s attacking runs and set-piece prowess could prove decisive. Danny Rohl’s tactical tweaks—especially the decision to play two up front against Hearts—have paid dividends, and fans will be eager to see whether he sticks to that formula against a Livingston side fighting for their lives.
The match kicks off at 3pm BST on Sunday, February 22, 2026, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event in the UK. Fans can also stream the action via Sky Go and NOW TV, while Rangers TV international subscribers have access to live coverage as well. For those unable to tune in, live blogs and updates will be available through outlets such as dailyrecord.co.uk, ensuring supporters don’t miss a beat.
With the title race so finely poised and Livingston’s survival hopes hanging by a thread, this is more than just another league fixture. It’s a clash of ambition and desperation, of a club chasing glory and another fighting for its very future. As the teams line up at Almondvale Stadium, the tension is palpable—one side dreaming of silverware, the other battling to avoid the drop. The action is about to unfold, and with so much at stake, every minute will matter.