Rangers on the march again! Aribo, Balogun impressive

Scottish league champions Rangers flagged off their title defence  against Livingston at the Ibrox on Saturday

with a 3-0 victory.  Goals from Ianis Hagi, Scott Wright and Kemar Roofe ensured the Steven Gerrard tutored side pocketed three goals and three points.

Steven Gerrard’s side stormed their way to the title last season, winning the league by a 25-point margin, going the entire campaign unbeaten and surpassing the 100-point mark. Super Eagles duo Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun left no one in doubt that they are ready for the new season grabbing six and seven out of 10 rating in the opener.

The result implies that  Rangers have now gone 40 league games unbeaten and have won nine of their last 10 league meetings with Livingston since a 1-0 defeat in September 2018, their first such match against them under Gerrard.

Gerrard named a strong team despite the absence of Alfredo Morelos, who was still in quarantine while new boy Nnamdi Ofoborh remained out as the club continue to deal with his heart issue.

With 23,000 fans returning to Ibrox for the curtain-raiser, the hosts needed just eight minutes to assert their superiority.

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Jon McLaughlin was selected in goal for Rangers as Allan McGregor was handed a place on the bench. James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey made up the back four. John Lundstram was a substitute as Fashion Sakala made his competitive debut.

Rangers now go to Malmo in their Champions League third qualifying round first leg at 6pm on Tuesday, while Livingston host Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday August 8 at 3pm.