3 talking points as Rangers secure Livingston comeback thanks to James Tavernier's free kick magic

Rangers ripped the Premiership curtains open as two goals in two minutes spared the Ibrox men their first top-flight opening day defeat in 24 years.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s team looked to be on course for a repeat of the defeat they suffered to Hearts in Dick Advocaat’s first season in charge back in 1998 after Joel Nouble gave Livingston a shock lead. The big Englishman gave Rangers the run-around for most of the first-half while the rest of his team-mates worked tirelessly to add to Rangers’ frustrations.

But relief came with 18 minutes left as first Scott Arfield flicked home a header to level before skipper James Tavernier followed that up almost immediately with a perfectly-struck free-kick to get the Scottish Cup winners off and running. The SPFL’s decision to introduce VAR half-way through the campaign was always bound to cause controversy and of course, it arrived on the opening day as referee Don Robertson was instructed to chop off an Antonio Colak equaliser just after half-time that was proven by replies to be onside.

Jon McLaughlin appears to have won the battle to be Rangers’ new No.1 after being handed the start over Allan McGregor.

There were debuts for John Soutar, Tom Lawrence and Antonio Colak.

Livingston also had two of their summer recruits involved, with former Colchester keeper Shamal George starting alongside defender Phillip Cancar.

Neither Souttar nor Cancar would finish the game though. The Livi man had to be replaced midway through the first-half before he was sent off after a string of fouls while Souttar endured a torrid afternoon being pulled one way then the other by Nouble.

The Rangers fans behind Shamal George’s goal ignited a huge pyro display as the game got under way.

As the smoke