Ianis Hagi opened the scoring early on in a match Steven Gerrard’s side were in full control of, before Scott Wright added some deserved gloss 12 minutes from time with a sumptuous finish on the volley and Kemar Roofe provided the cherry on the cake right on 90 minutes.
Just shy of 50 per-cent of Ibrox was full today, but you would have been mistaken for thinking there was a full house given the incredible noise generated in the build-up to the match. It also provided a real foretaste of what is hopefully to come on Tuesday week when it’s anticipated a full house will watch the second leg of the Malmo Champions League tie.
Boss Gerrard noted in his pre-match interview this squad of 18 being one of the most difficult to pick in his time at the club so far, and also with the volume of matches to come, a need to balance resources as best as possible.
It was still an exceptionally strong XI which took to the field, however, with Jon McLaughlin in goal; James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey in front of him; Steven Davis, Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo in midfield with Ianis Hagi and Ryan Kent supporting debutant Fashion Jr up front.
A minute of silence was held just before kick-off with Ibrox remembering the life of former captain Ally Dawson who sadly passed away at the age of just 63 this week.
The stadium came to life again soon after, with the home side, full of energy, immediately on the attack.
Hagi did well to feed Tavernier to his right for an early shot for the captain which went just over, while goalkeeper Max Stryjek had to be alive to intercept a Tavernier cross which Fashion Jr looked to be latching onto.
Then, with just eight minutes played, Hagi raised the roof with Rangers’ first goal of the season.
A typically excellent Tavernier free-kick delivery dropped to the feet of Hagi at the back post, and his composure was magnificent, moving the ball onto his right foot and away from the cluster of defenders in front of him to blast home from six-yards.
It was just the start Gerrard would have been looking for, and Aribo almost made it two soon after, sensationally taking a Hagi chip on his chest and firing a volley at Stryjek from 15-yards, with the goalkeeper doing well to turn it behind.
Ibrox was an absolute cauldron of noise, responding to the thrilling football being played by the home side, and brilliant play from Kent on the edge of the area saw him get a shot away which was deflected behind.
Hagi picked up a knock midway through the half, and eventually had to be replaced by Scott Wright on the half hour mark.
It was Wright who had the first opening of the second half, sending a volley just over from 20-yards after taking a lovely touch on his chest, while Kent ought to have made it two, being well set up by Aribo inside the area but his shot was easily gathered by Stryjek.
Strykek saved again from Wright, clutching a header out of the air following a nice chip into the area from Bassey, but the young attacker wasn’t to be denied.
Rangers were probing and probing, and finally on 78 minutes, they forced open the door again. A Tavernier header dropped wide of the far right post for Wright, but rather than cut the ball back across goal, with the outside of his right foot on the half-volley, he arrowed a delicious effort into the opposite top corner to hand Gers the cushion they had been craving.
Tavernier came close with a free-kick late-on, before right on 90 minutes, Kemar Roofe was alive to a loose ball inside the area to bury it for 3-0.
So three points to start the season for Rangers, who now move onto Tuesday night, and a return to the Champions League with a third qualifying round tie away to Malmo.
RANGERS: McLaughlin, Tavernier, Bassey, Goldson, Hagi (Wright, 30), Davis, Kent, Aribo (Lundstram, 64), Kamara, Balogun, Sakala (Roofe, 71).
SUBS NOT USED: McGregor, Itten, Simpson, Patterson.
LIVINGSTON: Stryjek, McMillan, Obileye, Fitzwater, Lewis (Kabia, 55), Holt, Pittman, Sibbald (Devlin, 65), Forrest, Penrice, Anderson (Hamilton 68).
SUBS NOT USED: Barden, Kelly, Montano, Reilly.
REFEREE: John Beaton
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