An early strike from Christian Nerlinger had put the Light Blues in front but they never really looked like extending that advantage throughout a disappointing 90 minutes.
With chances at a premium, the highlight of the afternoon was the return of Ronald de Boer who appeared as a substitute midway through the second half.
It may be too much to expect the Dutchman to rescue Rangers’ season but his return was a welcome sight nevertheless.
With Celtic extending their lead at the top of the table to 14 points courtesy of their lunchtime win over Aberdeen, Alex McLeish’s men took to the field knowing nothing less than a victory over an in-form Livingston would suffice.
McLeish again was forced to play the Mr Tinkerman role with his team selection, Henning Berg and Mikel Arteta both joining long-term injury victims Steven Thompson and Stephen Hughes on the sidelines.
In their place Fernando Ricksen was asked to re-enact his defensive midfield role from last season alongside Nerlinger, while Mo Ross slotted in at right-back.
In a comeback as eagerly awaited as the Second Coming, de Boer was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench for the first time since August 31 alongside youngsters Hamed Namouchi and Alan Hutton.
In front of a subdued home crowd, it took only two minutes for this makeshift team to trouble the Livingston goal.
Nerlinger slung over a deep corner kick that Peter Lovenkrands nodded down for Nuno Capucho and the Portuguese’s first time attempt was well parried by Roddy McKenzie in the visitors’ goal.
Like Motherwell the week before them, Livi seemed content to play largely on the counter-attack but should have gone in front after seven minutes.
David Fernandez skinned Paolo Vanoli down the right flank before sending over a dangerous cross that Derek Lilley somehow headed wide from a prime position.
It was a let-off for Rangers although they responded well, with Craig Moore’s drive following another dangerous Nerlinger corner hacked off the line by the scrambling David McNamee.
The Light Blues were not to be denied moments later, however, when they went in front following a sweeping move that started with Michael Mols feeding Lovenkrands.
The Dane in turn found Ricksen and, when his drive was only parried by McKenzie, Nerlinger was first to react to bundle the loose ball home.
It was no more than Rangers had deserved after a bright start and they could have been two-up just 60 seconds later when Mols was sent through on goal by Shota Arveladze.
The Dutchman didn’t have the pace to bear down on goal and a sliding tackle from Maun Dorado brought that move to an abrupt end.
After such a bristling start, the remainder of the opening period was something of a damp squid with neither side producing much to warm up the supporters on a bitterly cold day.
Stuart Lovell came close with a brace of long-range shots for the visitors while Lilley was unable to convert a scrambled effort from close range after Marvin Andrews had headed Lee Makel’s corner into his path.
Rangers huffed and puffed with little to show for their endeavours although McKenzie had to look sharp to keep out a left-foot shot from Arveladze as half-time approached.
It was something of a pleasant surprise therefore when the second half opened with a burst of activity although ref Ian Brines remarkably saw nothing wrong with a late Lilley challenge on Moore that left the Gers skipper needing treatment.
Fernandez then wasted a great chance when he broke free of Moore only to slice his shot wide before Lilley and the normally placid Nerlinger broke out into a scrap.
After the dreary end to the first half, this was compelling stuff and there was further controversy just after the hour mark when Capucho seemed to be upended in the box only for ref Brines to yellow card the former Porto man for a perceived dive.
De Boer then appeared from the bench to the biggest cheer of the day – replacing Mols – before Gers were denied another penalty when Capucho’s shot seemed to strike Andrews on the arm.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic, however, although sub Fernando Pasquinelli shot tamely at Stefan Klos shortly after coming on.
The goalkeeper was stretched substantially more minutes later when he had to sprawl to tip over a powerful effort from Fernandez.
Ref Brines was winning no new friends with some inconsistent officiating, allowing Lilley to get away with another dreadful challenge – this time on Vanoli – and taking no action when Fernandez seemed to take a dive in the box.
And that was just about it besides a couple of half-chances for comeback man de Boer and a brace of late Andrews’ headers that dropped just wide of Klos’ goal.
Rangers’ task in trying to claw back Celtic’s lead may be a thankless one but they are plugging away at it nevertheless.
RANGERS (4-4-2): 1 Klos; 21 Ross, 15 Khizanishvili, 3 Moore, 16 Vanoli (Ball 80); 20 Capucho, 2 Ricksen, 8 Nerlinger, 26 Lovenkrands; 7 Arveladze, 10 Mols (de Boer 61)
Subs not used: McGregor, Hutton, Namouchi
Booked: Capucho (61)
LIVINGSTON (5-3-2): 18 McKenzie; 2 McNamee, 4 Rubio, 5 Andrews, 6 Dorado, 3 McAllister; 14 Makel, 17 Lovell (Pasquinelli 68), 15 O’Brien; 7 Fernandez, 16 Lilley (Brittain 79)
Subs not used: Main, Quino, McLaughlin
Booked: Lilley (52), McNamee (64)
Man of the Match: Shota Arveladze