Football Tips: Your 3 best bets for Rangers v Livingston on Saturday

Our tipster Andrew Cunneen celebrates the return of the Premiership with some good, old-fashioned rage.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Let’s be realistic. The Olympics is lovely, but it’s as much a melodrama as it is a sporting occasion and you can’t even really get angry with anyone. Because ultimately that’s domestic football is, isn’t it? You have a long week at work where everyone’s annoyed you. You come home and realised someone’s nicked the pasty you were thinking about all day in the fridge and you slammed the door on your toe. Again.

But somehow, someway, come the weekend, all of those things are actually the fault of the first player to misplace a pass for the side you support. So it seems just – that a nation of angry people that possess subpar football would be the opener – and the return of domestic football.

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Ah, Scotland. Never change. So, the rise of Rangers as the leading force in Scottish football is now complete, but won’t be solidified until they follow-up. Right now, with Celtic somewhat flailing, it feels like only Steven Gerrard moving onto pastures new would be the drop-off they’re so keen to avoid.

But he’s in place. And so are Kemar Roofe and James Tavernier – they even snagged John Lundstram of fantasy football fame. They also beat Real Madrid in their last pre-season friendly. The good times look like they’re here to stay. Here’s three best bets for their season opener.

Saturday 1.30pm: Rangers v Livingston
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football

Steven Gerrard

Short-Price Punt: Rangers to Keep a Clean Sheet

My favourite thing about the Rangers boss is that he holds a grudge. He seems a bitter enough man that he’d comfortably never let something go – nor make the same mistake twice. It’s almost doubly unfortunate then, that the one mistake he made in his playing career is still being played over and over again to this day.

But Gerrard’s first game against Livingston ended in defeat. Since then? He’s won eight of nine and kept six straight clean sheets against them in the league. Given the gap has grown even larger, I fully expect this to be another shut-out as The Gers keep a clean sheet.

Value Punt: Half-Time Draw

It’s always a value punt regardless – particularly as these openers are coming in July for the first time since 2011. Rangers have had a heavy enough pre-season and while that doesn’t quite equate to Celtic’s European exploits, it does mean that they’ve got the minutes into their legs but without that competitive nature to switch it up a few levels when required.

They’ll be winning this game if they had nine men, let alone their full-strength XI that’s to come – but it might be a slow-burner rather than a blistering beginning. I’m anticipating the Half-time Draw here.

Long Shot: James Tavernier to Score 2 or More Goals

We all know Tavernier enjoys a penalty kick. But he’s more than that – he’s the embodiment of Rangers in their current trajectory and seeing him find the net multiple times against weak opposition wouldn’t be that shocking.

If Rangers get a penalty – and they generally do – he’s a goal away from landing a nice touch. And I’d back him to do it on opening day, too. James Tavernier to Score 2 or More Goals is your long shot here.

Rangers v Livingstone tips

Short-Price Punt: Rangers to Keep a Clean Sheet
Value Punt: Half-Time Draw
Long Shot: James Tavernier to Score 2 or More Goals

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

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