---
title: "Unsung Hero: Rangers’ Steven Davis justified his recall by Steven Gerrard in win over Livingston"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/unsung-hero-rangers-steven-davis-justified-his-recall-by-steven-gerrard-in-win-over-livingston/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Features"
published: "2020-02-17T19:40:06Z"
modified: "2020-02-17T19:40:06Z"
---

# Unsung Hero: Rangers’ Steven Davis justified his recall by Steven Gerrard in win over Livingston

**Rangers returned to winning ways on Sunday afternoon after Scott Arfield’s goal gave them all three points at Ibrox against Livingston.**

Having been [beaten by Kilmarnock](https://www.skysports.com/football/kilmarnock-vs-rangers/411373) in their previous game, the pressure on Steven Gerrard’s men was intensified earlier in the day by [Celtic’s late win at Aberdeen](https://www.skysports.com/football/aberdeen-vs-celtic/411376), especially after the match at Ibrox was [put back from Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch](https://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-livingston/report/411380). The Canadian midfielder has been on a superb run of form, his [59th-minute winner](https://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-livingston/report/411380) against the Lions his [fifth goal in his last six matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/scott-arfield/leistungsdaten/spieler/55291) in all competitions, but another man in the middle of the park also justified the faith shown in him by the manager.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unsung-heros.png)

Steven Davis was [recalled to the starting line-up after being an unused substitute](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/steven-davis/leistungsdaten/spieler/28973) in the defeat at Kilmarnock, with [Joe Aribo making way](https://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-livingston/report/411380) for the Northern Ireland veteran, and he was involved in a couple of decent opportunities that Rangers carved out prior to Arfield’s match-winning moment.

Ten minutes before half-time, Davis slipped in Andy Halliday for a shot on goal and it took a fine save from Livingston’s Ryan Schofield to keep the teams level. Then, in the early second half exchanges, it was the 35-year-old who was on the end of an inviting pass from Ianis Hagi and got a shot away, only for the visitors’ goalkeeper to again step up when his team needed him. \[[via Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-livingston/report/411380)\]

It wasn’t just Davis’ involvement in those scoring chances that caught the eye of some reporters, either. Abhinab Ghosh of [The 4th Official](https://the4thofficial.net/2020/02/arfield-gets-8-hagi-with-7-5-rangers-players-rated-in-their-narrow-win-vs-livingston/) felt that the veteran “put in an impressive performance” and “covered a lot of ground”. The latter point was also voiced by [Rangers News](https://www.rangersnews.uk/club-news/rangers-player-ratings-livi/) writer James Black, who added that the 35-year-old “impressed in the engine room” for the home side at Ibrox.

In contrast to Arfield, the Northern Ireland midfielder has not been a fountain of goals for Rangers this season, with only [one in 35 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/steven-davis/leistungsdaten/spieler/28973) in 2019/20, but he justified Gerrard’s decision to restore him to the team with a performance in which he came close to doubling his goal tally for the campaign and put in the hard yards to help his team to victory.

***Rangers fans, were you impressed by Davis against Livingston and should Gerrard keep him in the team for the Europa League clash against Braga? Comment below with your views!***