RANGERS SHORT ON INSPIRATION

Gerrard’s side see off Livi but no sign of a plan for title encore

THIS was a Rangers display, although dominant throughout in terms of possession and a perfectly steady opening to their defence of the Premiership title, easily split into two parts. Before Ianis Hagi got halved in two by a wild tackle from Adam Lewis. And after.

Before that 13th-minute bonecruncher, which eventually resulted in Hagi’s removal from the action on the half-hour, the Ibrox side had been irresistible. Fast, incisive and relentless.

Captain James Tavernier was rampaging up the flank in terrifying fashion, the movement and rotation of Ryan Kent and Hagi in the wider attacking positions left Livi chasing shadows. Same goes for Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara in midfield.

Hagi scored on eight minutes with a sharp finish from an opening gifted by some dreadful defending. It then looked like it might end up a cricket score.

And yet, after the 22-year-old had been scythed down by a tackle that could easily have earned Lewis more than just a yellow card on a different day, the intensity dipped. It became too slow, too tippy-tappy, pretty short on inspiration.

Scott Wright, who replaced Hagi, did lift the atmosphere 12 minutes from time with a brilliant finish and, with Livi down to 10 men after injury to Jaze Kabia, substitute Kemar Roofe wrapped up a club record 20th straight home win and a 40th game unbeaten in the top flight for Rangers with a third goal.

However, the keenly anticipated answers to some interesting questions on how Steven Gerrard’s team will evolve after last season’s triumphant league campaign will have to wait.

Gerrard feels Fashion Sakala should change their dynamic as an attacking force. The Zambian plays on the shoulder, has lightning pace and is an exciting prospect in conjunction with Kent.

Will Sakala be a proper alternative to Alfredo Morelos, absent yesterday as he completes quarantine, as a centre-forward? Not necessarily on the evidence here. Only once did he get the ball in a wide position and ask questions when stretching the legs. That role on the right of the main attacker seems a more natural fit.

With Morelos’ involvement in the midweek trip to Malmo on Champions League qualifying duty uncertain and Roofe suspended, he may have to be the central man again, though.

Bearing that in mind, Wright providing a goal after coming off the bench might just be enough to see him propelled into the starting line-up should Hagi fail to make it.

One thing that definitely looks like changing this term is the frequency with which the Rangers goalkeepers will be rotated.

Jon McLaughlin, who didn’t have a shot on target to deal with against a Livingston side with clear work to do after bringing in 12 new players, started yesterday ahead of Allan McGregor. But the veteran, who will play in Sweden, hits 40 this season and it is evident that Gerrard sees a need to give him more rest to keep his body in check.

As for pre-season discussions over fitting Tavernier and Nathan Patterson into the team, that remains an unsolved puzzle, with the 19-year-old being left on the subs’ bench.

The effect of John Lundstram on the midfield is another matter for another day. The 27-year-old Englishman showed in his halfhour appearance from the bench that he is strong, physical, and he isn’t scared to have a crack at goal.

Speculation over the future of Kamara may have to settle, however, before Gerrard gets his mix exactly right in the engine room.

This Rangers side, whoever plays, should be good enough to retain the league title given the state of affairs across the city at Celtic.

Another talking point before this curtain-raiser, which began with a minute’s silence for the late Ally Dawson, was whether or not fans would accept the side taking the knee. The roars as they did must have thrilled Tavernier, who felt the need to make a post-match plea for no booing, and his team-mates.

Certainly, that noise level didn’t drop when the action got going and Hagi scored in just eight minutes.

The former Fiorentina player won a free-kick after being fouled by Lewis. Tavernier flighted the ball to the back post.

The unmarked Hagi trapped the ball under his left foot, moved it onto his right, and his shot took a slight deflection off Jack Fitzwater before flying into keeper Max Stryjek’s top right-hand corner.

From there, though, the chances dried up until Wright intervened and staked his claim for Malmo.

Kent tried a shot that spun into the air off a Livi boot and Tavernier got his head to it to send it into Wright’s path. He caught the ball with the outside of his right boot and bent it beautifully into the net.

Roofe then added a late third. Ayo Obileye’s attempted clearance sparked a bout of bagatelle in the area and ended with the ex-Leeds striker converting from close in.

RANGERS (4-3-3): McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Bassey; Aribo (Lundstram 64), Davis, Kamara; Kent, Sakala (Roofe 71), Hagi (Wright 30).

Subs not used: McGregor, Itten, Simpson, Patterson. Booked: None.

LIVINGSTON (4-5-1): Stryjek; McMillan, Fitzwater, Obileye, Lewis (Kabia 55); Forrest, Holt, Pittman, Sibbald (Devlin 64), Penrice; Anderson (Hamilton 68).

Subs not used: Barden, Montano, Reilly, Kelly.

Booked: Lewis, Sibbald, Devlin, Penrice, Forrest. Referee: John Beaton. Attendance: 23,000.