MX23RW : Thursday, January 31 09:06:58

5 Ladbrokes Premiership talking points as Rangers keep pressure on Celtic

5 Ladbrokes Premiership talking points as Rangers keep pressure on Celtic
© Reuters
The Gers are second, three points behind their bitter rivals.

Celtic remain top of the Ladbrokes Premiership after a comfortable 3-0 win over Hamilton at Parkhead on Saturday.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at five other talking points from the weekend's action.

1. Diamonds aren't forever but Rangers sparkle at Livingston

Rangers winger Ryan Kent (centre) celebrates his strike at Livingston
Rangers winger Ryan Kent (centre) celebrates his strike at Livingston (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Steven Gerrard chose the wrong time to experiment with a midfield diamond against Kilmarnock in midweek and paid the price as his side slumped to defeat at Rugby Park. Against Livingston he returned to the tried and trusted 4-3-3 system that served him well during the first half of the campaign – and his side immediately looked more comfortable. The Rangers boss will no doubt go back to the narrow four-man midfield in future as he looks to squeeze Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe into his starting line-up but picking and choosing the times to do it will be vital.

2. Ryan Fulton watches good performance slip through his fingers

Hamilton's 22-year-old keeper Ryan Fulton kept Celtic at bay on Saturday with a string of good saves – only to let a Callum McGregor shot from distance slip through his legs. A fumble in the second half allowed Ryan Christie to add a second with the home side running out 3-0 winners.

3. Satisfaction all round at Pittodrie

Aberdeen's goalless draw with Kilmarnock might not have been the brightest of spectacles but neither Dons boss Derek McInnes nor his Killie counterpart Steve Clarke will be too unhappy with the point. Defeat would have been a body blow with both sides hoping to hang on to Celtic's coattails and maintain their part in the title race, but a share of the points keeps both sides in the hunt.

4. Buddies' sliding doors moment

St Mirren missed a great chance to go 2-0 up and possibly move off the bottom of the table as they hosted crisis-hit Hibs on Sunday. On the hour-mark, visiting keeper Ofir Marciano blundered badly to present the ball to Kyle McAllister 35 yards from goal but the Saints player delayed his shot before clipping a tame long-range effort that Marvin Bartley easily swept up. Hibs went on to win 3-1.

5. Jim McIntyre sees rays of hope despite latest Dundee defeat

Dundee boss Jim McIntyre will be disappointed with losing to Motherwell but encouraged by his side's display
Dundee boss Jim McIntyre will be disappointed with losing to Motherwell but encouraged by his side's display (Jeff Holmes/PA)

The Dens Park side missed the chance to clamber out of the dropzone as they allowed Motherwell to snatch a 1-0 win through David Turnbull's second-half penalty. But it was not all doom and gloom for McIntyre after watching his new-look side dominate Well. If the Dark Blues' forwards can dig out their shooting boots, there might yet be hope for their fight for survival.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24194155144161
2Manchester CityMan City24182463194456
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs24180650242654
4Arsenal24145550331747
5Chelsea24145540231747
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd24136548351345
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2410593031-135
8Everton249693533233
9Watford249693334-133
10Bournemouth24103113742-533
11Leicester CityLeicester2495103030032
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2494113037-731
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2475122736-926
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2466122132-1124
15Crystal Palace2465132433-923
16Southampton2458112641-1523
17Burnley2465132545-2023
18Cardiff CityCardiff2454152046-2619
19Fulham2445152553-2817
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2425171341-2811

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