James Tavernier sends Rangers soaring into Celtic Hampden showdown with brace against Livingston - 3 talking points

James Tavernier was yet again Rangers’ man on the spot as he slotted home his 50th career penalty as Michael Beale’s team tucked into another three points at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

A sensational free-kick from the Ibrox captain then doubled Gers’ lead before substitute Kemar Roofe made it the perfect preparation for next weekend’s Viaplay Cup final clash with Celtic with a late third. The result handed Beale a 13th win from 14 in charge but the Light Blues didn’t need luck to stroll to their seventh win in their last eight trips to West Lothian.

While Gers remain nine points behind Ange Postecoglou’s Premiership leaders, the result could have dire consequences for the Lions - who had Stephane Omega sent-off late on - and their European ambitions after they dropped two places to sixth. Beale had insisted he would ignore the looming prospect of next week’s Hampden clash and send out his strongest team to face Davie Martindale’s men.

John Lundstram and Ryan Jack were always expected to miss out through injury but there were eyebrows raised as key man Malik Tillman’s name dropped off the team-sheet entirely. The Bayern Munich loanee, it turns out, is nursing calf and hamstring knocks so was not risked on the Almondvale astro.

Martindale’s side were looking to protect their place in fourth after seeing their Scottish Cup hopes ended in unexpected fashion by Inverness. Martindale made two changes to the side stunned by the Highlanders as former Ibrox kid Stephen Kelly and Omeonga returned in place of Jason Holt and Bruce Anderson.

Gers thought they’d snatched an early lead nine minutes in as Fashion Sakala turned home an Alfredo Morelos cross but the Zambian really should have done better to hold his run and it was an easy