Rangers are all set to kick off the new Scottish Premiership season away to Hearts at Tynecastle.
The Gers will do the honours of kicking off the 24/25 Scottish Premiership campaign in Edinburgh with plenty of questions hanging over Philippe Clement’s squad.
Rangers fell short in their hunt for Scottish Premiership supremacy last season, blowing the chance to claim the title from Celtic despite briefly reaching the summit under the Belgian manager.
Clement has always been clear that a league season is a marathon not a sprint but Rangers fans are hoping for a bright start at one of Scottish football’s toughest venues.
Here’s our live coverage of the match.
Hearts v Rangers Scottish Premiership LIVE
Philippe Clement gives Rangers injury update
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been providing an injury update following the clash with Hearts at Tynecastle.
Oscar Cortes was forced off in the second half due to injury.
Kris Boyd singles out Connor Barron
Rangers striker Kris Boyd has had some positive things to say about Rangers debutant Connor Barron.
The midfielder was a stand-out in the 0-0 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle.
Clement continues to pine for Lundstram
Philippe Clement claims Rangers ‘miss’ the presence of John Lundstram in the middle of the pitch.
It’s not the first time the Ibrox manager has spoken about the Scouser this summer.
Rangers fans are growing frustrated and it’s time Clement shifted his focus to those players who’re in the building.
Robin Pröpper absence explained
Philippe Clement has explained that new signing Robin Pröpper was not included v Hearts because he has yet to train with the team.
Rangers player ratings v Hearts
Rangers played out a frustrating 0-0 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle to kick off the new season.
Whilst the club’s uncertain squad avoided defeat, there were a few winners and more losers on the day in Edinburgh.
We’ve given out one 8/10 and one 4/10 after the stalemate in Gorgie.
John Souttar: Gers have got to ‘improve’
The Scotland international says Rangers had chances to win the game as he lamented on a poor first-half.
Naismith: Barron handball wasn’t a penalty
It’s not like Steven Naismith to side with the referees and the Jambos manager has been speaking to Sky Sports.
Claiming that the Connor Barron incident wasn’t a penalty, the ex-Rangers striker has also been discussing the match.
Clement: Hearts draw a fair result’
The Rangers manager has been speaking to Sky Sports after the draw with Hearts.
Philippe Clement has criticised his team for their first half display at Tynecastle.
Rangers News LIVE reaction to Hearts draw
Stay with us for LIVE reaction, all the news, analysis, interviews and the rest.
[Link]FULL TIME: Hearts 0 – 0 Rangers
Rangers kick off the Premiership season with an unconvincing 0-0 draw away to Hearts at Tynecastle.
Both sides had their chances, Hearts probably edged the first half whilst Rangers undoubtedly had the better of the second.
Cyriel Dessers might’ve had a hattrick on another day too.
There was a controversial VAR handball penalty call in the game too with the clash at Tynecastle as entertaining a 0-0 draw as you’ll see.
This was definite banana skin opener for Philippe Clement as he looks to rebuild the Rangers squad and – whilst a draw isn’t what fans wanted – his side have avoided defeat.
The Jambos have improved on last season and look an organised, athletic and determined team under Steven Naismith.
Rangers showed flashes of quality but looked leggy as the game wore and lack any genuine incision and cutting edge in the final third.
Cyriel Dessers remains a bone of contention up top with the striker once again missing a raft of chances which a more lethal finisher might’ve stuck away.
In midfield, Rangers lack leadership and we need a proper number 6 who can dictate the game and compose the team.
How good or bad a result this is – as always – will depend on the outcome of the season.
But from match day one, if Celtic can overcome Kilmarnock tomorrow, Rangers look to be playing catch-up.
[Link]‘95 – Yellow card for Hearts
Daniel Ogeyoke rounds us off with a final yellow card for Hearts at Tynecastle.
[Link]‘90 – five more minutes in Edinburgh
After a tense 13 minutes or so, there’s five more added on.
Dessers probably had to react quicker to a Matondo knock-down but his game grown in tenseness in these final stages.
Few tired legs and no team wants to lose it.
[Link]‘77 – Tavernier narrowly avoids OG
The Rangers skipper narrowly avoids putting the ball into his own net with sclaffed clearance in the Ibrox six yard box.
We’re in for a long 13 minutes.
[Link]‘73 – Confusion in the Gers box
Things are getting nervy now as a mix up in the box almost leads to disaster for Rangers.
Leon Balogun nods the ball to Butland before it bounces back out before Hearts have a shot blocked.
We suspect it’s going to be a tense end to the match.
[Link]‘69 – Butland halts Shankland
Lawrence Shankland hasn’t had much sight of goal today but managed to manufacture himself an effort at Jack Butland’s goal.
The striker showed good composure but Butland held his nerve to save low and grab the follow up.
[Link]‘64 – Diomande shown yellow
As far as yellow cards go, this is a pretty soft one.
A rather innocuous coming together with Cammy Devlin results in the Ivorian being shown a yellow.
[Link]‘61 – Clark with a stunning save
Tom Lawrence almost bends one into the top corner and Zander Clark stretches to keep it out the top corner.
What a save with Rangers enjoying a good spell.
[Link]‘60 – Double substitution for Rangers
Leon Balogun comes on for Ben Davies.
Vaclav Cerny makes his Rangers debut coming on for Scott Wright.
[Link]‘54 – Kye Rowles booked
Australian defender Kye Rowles is booked for a high challenge on Tom Lawrence.
What a crazy few minutes at Tynecastle.
[Link]‘53 – Cyriel Dessers hits woodwork
What a cross from Tom Lawrence and a superb header from Cyriel Dessers which somehow stays out of the net.
It looked like Rangers striker hit the bar and the post, how did that not go in?
[Link]’52 – Tavernier almost scores from corner
Lawrence Shankland usually stops goals going in. That’s three times he’s nodded away a James Tavernier corner, with the Rangers captain almost scoring.
[Link]‘47 – Cortes goes down
Philippe Clement might regret not taking Cortes off at half-time.
The Colombian stretches to keep up with Gerald Taylor and pulls up before going down.
Heartbreak for the winger who has worked so hard to come back into the team following an injury sustained against Kilmarnock in February.
Let’s hope it’s not serious.
Welsh international Rabbi Matondo is ON to replace the winger for Rangers.
[Link]Oscar Cortes is back out the tunnel
Colombian winger Oscar Cortes is back on the pitch after going down injured at the end of the first-half.
The RC Lens loanee has had an enthralling battle with Hearts right-back Gerald Taylor on the left-side of the Ibrox attack.
We’re about to kick-off.
[Link]HALF-TIME: Hearts 0 v 0 Rangers
It’s still goalless at Tynecastle after a quite frenetic first 45 minutes in Edinburgh.
Hearts have probably come the closest having hit the bar but both sides have had chances at Tynecastle.
It’s an energetic and end-to-end game and you get the feeling Rangers will need to score first to hold off a Hearts onslaught.
The Jambos look very decent under Steven Naismith and Rangers look like they’re lacking leadership, particularly in the middle of the pitch.
It’s a bit frenetic and Cyriel Dessers is once again under the microscope.
The Nigerian international fashioned two chances for himself with lovely touches but didn’t test the goalkeeper enough.
It’s all to play for in the second period, let’s hope Oscar Cortes re-emerges fully fit from the tunnel.
[Link]45’ – Oscar Cortes goes down on stroke of halftime
Rangers winger Cortes is returning to the starting line up but went down clutching his knee on the stroke of half-time.
Worrying images for Gers but let’s hope it’s nothing serious.
[Link]‘40 – Cyriel Dessers forces Clark into action
Another wonderful piece of control from Cyriel Dessers after a lovely cross from Ridvan Yilmaz.
Dessers takes out the door defenders but bounces the ball straight at Clark with a left-foot strike.
That’s two chances for Cyriel so far at Tynecastle…
[Link]‘33 – Cammy Devlin shown yellow
Tenacious Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin is shown yellow for a late challenge on Scott Wright.
The Australian will be walking a tightrope for the rest of the game.
[Link]‘30 – Barron handball waved away
Hearts see a Hearts handball claim waved away by VAR after the ball struck Rangers debutant Connor Barron.
Last season we might’ve seen those given and we’re underway with penalty controversy number one of the campaign.
[Link]‘25 – McKay fires over
Barrie McKay gets an opening at the edge of the box and fires it over Jack Butland’s bar.
We’ve seen the former Rangers winger score those types of goals again and it’s another warning sign for the visiting team.
[Link]‘21 – Cyriel Dessers taps it over
After a tidy touch Cyriel Dessers just taps the ball over Zander Clark’s net.
Superb run and touch from a Mohamed Diomande pass but just not the cutting edge required.
[Link]‘19 – Connor Barron forces save
New Rangers signing Barron forces Zander Clarke to get down for Hearts with a rasping left-foot effort.
This is end-to-end at the moment.
[Link]‘13 – Hearts hit the bar
Yan Dhanda wallops a long-range effort off the bar after Lawrence Shankland seen an effort deflected narrowly wide.
Rangers had an opening with Tom Lawrence but it’s just breaking down in the final third for the Ibrox side.
Hearts with their tails up but Rangers are finding a little bit of space and just need things to link up better up top.
[Link]‘8 – solid save from Jack Butland
Rangers keep Butland was the Rangers Player of the Year last season.
Already the keeper is proving his worth with a solid low save as Hearts debutant James Penrice found space in the box.
A warning sign for Rangers following a tense opening at Tynecastle.
[Link]We’re underway at Tynecastle!
The maroon of Hearts kick off the new Scottish Premiership season, kicking into Rangers who’ll be wearing changed white strips in Edinburgh.
[Link]Sutton: Shankland wants the move to Rangers
The situation with Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is one of the most interesting subplots ahead of the game with Rangers.
Rangers have been extensively linked to Shankland for a number of windows that’s no change this summer.
According to Chris Sutton, Shankland ‘wants the move to Rangers’.
Kick-off approaches at Tynecastle
We’re about 15 minutes out from the Scottish Premiership opener at Tynecastle.
The Rangers team have been out doing their warm-ups as we get closer to the action.
Keep up to date with live coverage, analysis and reaction on the Rangers News LIVE blog.
Sky Sports panel discuss new season at Rangers
Ex-Rangers striker Kris Boyd is joined by former Scotland star James McFadden and ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton in the Sky Sports studio at Tynecastle.
Alongside host Eilidh Barbour, they’ve been talking about pressure on Rangers manager Philippe Clement despite the Belgian signing a new contract.
Shankland captains Hearts
The Jambos line-up is out with Rangers-linked Lawrence Shankland front and centre.
New signings Yan Dhanda and James Penrice also start.
‘Summer rebuild’
Rangers fans expecting big changes this summer have been hit with more or less the same team from last season.
It speaks volumes about he failure to add real first-team quality and fans are – deservedly – rather angry about the whole thing.
Are we weaker or stronger than last season as things stand?
Given our solid record against Hearts last season, we’re about to find out.
[Link]Connor Barron to make his debut
The 21-year-old has big shoes to fill with John Lundstram heading to Turkey and Tynecastle is a stern test.
A baptism of fire awaits the midfielder who has joined from Aberdeen this summer.
Confirmed Rangers XI v Hearts
Connor Barron makes his Rangers debut. Vaclav Cerny and Jefte on the bench.
Rangers confirm squad numbers for 24/25
Todd Cantwell (13) has been included whilst Hamza Igamane is number 29.
Rangers Predicted XI
Whilst we’re expecting team news from Tynecastle directly, here’s how we fancy Rangers to line up.
But will it be the same XI Philippe Clement chooses this afternoon?
GK – Jack Butland
DR – James Tavernier
DC – John Souttar
DC – Robin Pröpper
DL – Ridvan Yilmaz
CM – Connor Barron
CM – Mohamed Diomande
CAM – Tom Lawrence
RW – Ross McCausland
ST – Cyriel Dessers
LW – Oscar Cortes
[Link]Rangers’ opening day record
Rangers fans will be hoping for a bright start to the season at Tynecastle but the Gers aren’t exactly famed for opening day masterclasses.
Despite that, Rangers have won four of their last five opening day games in the Scottish Premiership.
Whilst there’s a sentiment we’re slow starters on Premiership duties, last season’s opening day defeat to Kilmarnock was the first for five years.
Kilmarnock 1 – 0 Rangers (L) – 23/24
Livingston 1 – 2 Rangers (W) – 22/23
Rangers 3 – 0 Livingston (W) – 21/22
Aberdeen 0 – 1 Rangers (W) – 20/21
Kilmarnock 1 – 2 Rangers (W) – 19/20
[Link]Neil McCann: I was very surprised at Clement deal
The former Jambos and Rangers winger has also praised Hearts’ transfer business whilst raising some questions about this summer at Ibrox.
Rob in line for Pröpper debut
Rangers defender Robin Pröpper should be available to face Hearts despite Philippe Clement keeping journalists guessing yesterday.
The Ibrox manager had suggested that the defender might not be available due to paperwork related issues following the 30-year-old’s switch from FC Twente.
But that is not set to be an issue, as you can read below:
Rangers team and injury news
Rangers have undergone quite a substantial rebuild already in the transfer window with more names expected to come in and move out of the club in the coming weeks.
With John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe and now Connor Goldson all leaving Ibrox there is expected to be a fresh look to Clement’s Rangers team.
Brazilian left-back Jefte (Fluminense), Scotland U21 midfielder Connor Barron (Aberdeen), French defender Clinton Nsiala (AC Milan), and Czech winger Vaclav Cerny (Wolfsburg, loan) have all trained ahead of the trip to Tynecastle and could make their debuts.
Fellow new signing Hamza Igamane (FAR Rabat) is not yet up to speed with the rest of the squad and Rangers will take their time introducing the £1.7m signing to the first team.
Back-up goalkeeper Liam Kelly (Motherwell) is not expected to depose number one Jack Butland for the match in Edinburgh.
Rangers could also have Dutch defender Robin Pröpper in the club’s squad for the trip to Hearts after the FC Twente captain completed a switch to Ibrox.
Oscar Cortes (RC Lens) has signed an extension to his loan and could be in line for a first appearance since being injured against Kilmarnock in February.
Similarly, Brazilian striker Danilo has returned from a lengthy knee injury which he sustained against Hearts at Ibrox in December last year.
Rangers captain James Tavernier has also recovered from a hip injury in time for the new season kicking off v Hearts.
Perennially injured players such as Ben Davies, John Souttar, Tom Lawrence, Kieran Dowell and Rabbi Matondo have also completed pre-season without any known issues.
The only player who has come through pre-season with an injury is Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin, who will be out until September following a rough challenge in the defeat to Ajax.
[Link]Hearts v Rangers referee and VAR
Nick Walsh is the referee taking charge of the Hearts clash against Rangers.
Frank Connor and Callum Spence will be the whistler’s assistants, with Iain Sneddon set to be the fourth official.
Kevin Clancy is on VAR duties with Sean Carr set to be the assistant VAR at Tynecastle.
[Link]Hearts v Rangers TV channel
Hearts v Rangers will kick off the Scottish Premiership season with the match set to be screened live by Sky Sports.
The game will be shown on Sky Sports Football (403) and Sky Sports Main Event (401) with coverage beginning at 11:30am on Saturday morning.
Rangers fans will need a Sky Sports package to watch the match or alternatively can buy a £14.99 day pass to watch the game via NOW TV.
Radio listeners can also listen to live coverage of the game via BBC Sportsound, with coverage commencing on BBC Radio Scotland at 12pm.
[Link]Hearts v Rangers kick-off details
Rangers’ Scottish Premiership trip to face Hearts is scheduled for Saturday 3rd August with kick-off set for 12:30pm BST.
The game will take place at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh.
[Link]Hearts v Rangers LIVE!
Welcome to the official Rangers News LIVE blog for coverage of the clash with Hearts.
Follow along for all the pre-match news coming out of Tynecastle and keep up to date with LIVE coverage and reaction of the Scottish Premiership opener!
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