Michael Beale under ‘automatic pressure’ with Rangers favourites to win League Cup ahead of Livingston clash – John Hartson

Rangers are the “favourites” to win the League Cup this season because Celtic are already out, although there are still some “very good teams” left in the competition, says John Hartson.

The pundit and ex-Hoops striker said on The Football Show on Go Radio (14 September) that his former side’s exit to Kilmarnock left Michael Beale with “automatic pressure” to win his first trophy given he is now expected to.

The Ibrox manager is already under intense scrutiny after sliding four points behind Celtic in the SPFL with another Old Firm defeat before the international break, but the club meets Livingston in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals later this month (27 September), with a cup success tipped to alleviate some of the pressure.

Many, however, will see the door wide open with Beale simply walking through it to end his trophy drought as Rangers manager.

Given that his tenure as manager has largely been marked by decent results until he comes up against Celtic, it would be a significant failure if he still failed to lift the cup after the Glasgow rivals were removed from the equation, and would certainly signal the end of his tenure.

The question of whether the 43-year-old will be given the opportunity to lead his team through the remaining three games of the competition is genuine, as missed points in the league or a massive pounding in Europe along the road might lead to the board running out of patience.

However, he has the possibility to go on a run after the international break, with a series of winnable matchups on paper, and if he can create momentum, there is no reason why the League Cup cannot be secured.