2020–21 Livingston F.C. season

The 2020–21 season was the club's third consecutive season in the Scottish Premiership, the top flight of Scottish football. Livingston also competed in the Scottish Cup and the League Cup.

Livingston
2020–21 season
ChairmanRobert Wilson
ManagerGary Holt
(until 26 Nov 20)[1]
David Martindale
(from 21 Dec 20)
StadiumAlmondvale Stadium
Scottish Premiership6th
Scottish CupFourth round
Scottish League CupRunners–up
Top goalscorerLeague: Scott Pittman (7)
All: Alan Forrest (11)

Season Summary

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Goalkeeper Gary Maley signed a new contract after a Twitter poll "joke" vote from fans.[2][3] Marvin Bartley was named as new captain for the season.[4] On 19 August, Lyndon Dykes left the club to join Queens Park Rangers for £2,000,000, breaking the record for the fee of a player sold by the club but part of the fee will go to Queen of the South as a sell-on clause.[5] Having signed on 22 August, Anthony Stokes left the club on 15 September without making an appearance for the club.[6] After the defeat to Celtic, Livi were bottom of the table but back to back wins seen them move up to the top six before the October International break.[7] On 26 November, Gary Holt resigned as manager after failing to win in five matches.[1] David Martindale and Tony Caig took over as caretakers with Martindale insisting he was "a changed man".[8] Martindale’s appointment saw the club’s form improve dramatically, with the club getting 8 consecutive wins and going 10 consecutive games unbeaten after a 2-2 draw with Celtic.[9] Livi reached the League Cup final for the first time since 2004 after beating St Mirren at Hampden Park.[10] The SFA's 'Fit and proper person' hearing was a positive outcome for manager Martindale, who was turned down in his application to be a club official a year earlier but had since been supported publicly.[11] The winning run continued as Livi won at Pittodrie for the first time since 2004, making it 14 matches unbeaten.[12] Livi progressed into the Top Six cut-off but finished Sixth, failing to win any of their post-split matches, dropping one place from last season. But still, a top-half finish and their second-highest points total in the Premiership is not to be scoffed at. Martindale has exceeded expectations this season and then some.[13]

Results & fixtures

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  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season

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18 July 2020 Friendly Dundee United 0–0 Livingston Tannadice Park
Report Attendance: 0
22 July 2020 Friendly Kilmarnock 1–2 Livingston Rugby Park
McKenzie   25' Report Forrest   24'
Ambrose   60'
Attendance: 0
25 July 2020 Friendly Livingston 2–2 Ross County Almondvale Stadium
14:00 Dykes   32'
Kouider-Aïssa   49'
Report Stewart   55'
Fontaine   75'
Attendance: 0

Scottish Premiership

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1 August 2020[14] 1 St Mirren 1–0 Livingston St Mirren Park
15:00 BST Tait   30' Report Attendance: 50
Referee: Don Robertson
8 August 2020 2 Livingston 1–4 Hibernian Almondvale Stadium
15:00 BST Dykes   60' (pen.) Report Nisbet   24', 37', 88' (pen.)
Doidge   41'
Referee: Euan Anderson
12 August 2020 3 Motherwell 2–2 Livingston Fir Park
19:45 BST Turnbull   8'
Campbell   35'
Report Dykes   10' (pen.)
Forrest   69'
Referee: Colin Steven
16 August 2020 4 Livingston 0–0 Rangers Almondvale Stadium
16:30 BST Report Referee: Nick Walsh
23 August 2020[15] 5 Aberdeen 2–1 Livingston Pittodrie Stadium
15:00 BST Ferguson   49'
Wright   55'
Report Sibbald   42'
Devlin   43'
Pittman   69'
29 August 2020 6 Livingston 1–0 Ross County Almondvale Stadium
15:00 BST Guthrie   64'
Serrano   67'
Report Draper   18'
Tremarco   51'
Gardyne   65'
Donaldson   90+3'
Referee: John Beaton
12 September 2020 7 Livingston 1–2 Hamilton Academical Almondvale Stadium
15:00 BST Pittman   1' Report Templeton   57'
Munro   85'
Referee: Don Robertson
19 September 2020 8 Celtic 3–2 Livingston Celtic Park
15:00 BST McGregor   20'
Christie   23'
Ajeti   52'
Report Holt   16' (pen.)
Serrano   78'
Referee: Gavin Duncan
26 September 2020 9 Livingston 2–0 St Johnstone Almondvale Stadium
15:00 BST Tiffoney   34'
Forrest   35'
Report Referee: Craig Napier
2 October 2020 10 Dundee United 1–2 Livingston Tannadice Park
19:45 BST Clark   18' Report Guthrie   53'
Forrest   90'
Referee: John Beaton
17 October 2020 11 Livingston 1–3 Kilmarnock Almondvale Stadium
15:00 BST Pittman   11' Report Tshibola   24'
Burke   37' (pen.)
Kiltie   57'
Referee: Greg Aitken
25 October 2020 12 Rangers 2–0 Livingston Ibrox Stadium
15:00 BST Aribo   9'
Defoe   16'
Jack   89'
Report Guthrie   68' Referee: Nick Walsh
31 October 2020 13 Livingston 0–2 Motherwell Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Guthrie   45+1'
Bartley   66'
Report Lang   22'
Watt   45+2',   73'
Maguire   70'
Referee: John Beaton
6 November 2020 14 Ross County 1–1 Livingston Global Energy Stadium
19:45 GMT Shaw   28'
Kelly   90'
Report Devlin   56'
Bartley   70'
Attendance: 300
Referee: Kevin Clancy
21 November 2020 15 Livingston 0–1 St Mirren Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Report Doyle-Hayes   56' Referee: Willie Collum
5 December 2020 16 Livingston 2–0 Dundee United Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Pittman   57'
Bartley   73'
Report Referee: Don Robertson
12 December 2020 17 St Johnstone 1–2 Livingston McDiarmid Park
15:00 GMT Kane   54' Report Guthrie   48'
Robinson   65'
Attendance: 0
Referee: John Beaton
23 December 2020 19 Hamilton Academical 0–2 Livingston New Douglas Park
18:00 GMT Report Guthrie   51'
Mullin   90+1'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Gavin Duncan
26 December 2020 20 Kilmarnock 1–2 Livingston Rugby Park
15:00 GMT Burke   48 pen.' Report Emmanuel-Thomas   51'
Robinson   90+2'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Clancy
2 January 2021 22 Hibernian 0–3 Livingston Easter Road
15:00 GMT Report Mullin   9'
Guthrie   16'
Robinson   47'
Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro
9 January 2021 23 Livingston 3–1 Ross County Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Robinson   9'
Forrest   81'
Hamilton   90+1'
Report Lakin   28' Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Muir
16 January 2021 24 Celtic 0–0 Livingston Celtic Park
15:00 GMT Report Attendance: 0
Referee: John Beaton
20 January 2021 18[N 1] Livingston 2–2 Celtic Almondvale Stadium
20:15 GMT Brown   15'
Emmanuel-Thomas   60'
Report Elyounoussi   28'
Bitton   28'
Brown   83'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Willie Collum
Note: Game televised on Sky Sports.
27 January 2021 25 Livingston 2–0 Kilmarnock Almondvale Stadium
19:45 GMT Kabia   89'
Pittman   90'
Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Steve Kirkland
30 January 2021 21[N 1] Livingston 0–0 Aberdeen Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Holt   85' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
2 February 2021 26 Aberdeen 0–2 Livingston Pittodrie Stadium
18:00GMT Ferguson   32'
Hoban   77'
Report Lewis   7' (o.g.)
Devlin  16'
Longridge   44'
Referee: Nick Walsh
6 February 2021 27 Livingston 1–2 St Johnstone Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Pittman   83' Report Tanser   45+2'
Rooney   51'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Euan Anderson
13 February 2021 28 Dundee United 3–0 Livingston Tannadice Park, Dundee
15:00 Sporle   1'
Pawlett   31'
Shankland   35', 83'
Report Fitzwater   61' Attendance: 0
Referee: Nick Walsh
20 February 2021 29 St Mirren 1–1 Livingston St Mirren Park, Paisley
15:00 MacPherson   32' Report McCarthy   8 o.g.' Attendance: 0
Referee: Willie Collum
3 March 2021 30 Livingston 0–1 Rangers Almondvale Stadium
18:00 GMT Report Morelos   87' Attendance: 0
Referee: John Beaton
6 March 2021 31 Motherwell 3–1 Livingston Fir Park, Motherwell
15:00 Cole   31 pen.', 59'
Long   69'
Report Fitzwater   60' Attendance: 0
Referee: Colin Steven
13 March 2021 32 Livingston 2–1 Hamilton Academical Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Emmanuel-Thomas   16'
Pittman   36'
Report Smith   30' Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Clancy
20 March 2021 33 Livingston 1–1 Hibernian Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Sibbald   28' Report Doidge   41' Attendance: 0
Referee: Nick Walsh
10 April 2021 34 Celtic 6–0 Livingston Celtic Park
15:00 Forrest   30'
Turnbull   38'
Fitzwater   50 o.g.'
Elyounoussi   54', 66'
Christie   87'
Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Nick Walsh
21 April 2021 35 Hibernian 2–1 Livingston Easter Road
15:00 Nisbet   8'
Boyle   26 pen.'
Report Emmanuel-Thomas   85 pen.' Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier
1 May 2021 36 Livingston 1–2 Aberdeen Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Emmanuel-Thomas   80' Report Hendry   52'
Hedges   74'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Grant Irvine
12 May 2021 37 Livingston 0–3 Rangers Almondvale Stadium
18:00 GMT Report Tavernier   42 pen.'
Kent   57'
Hagi   83'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson
15 May 2021 38 St Johnstone 0–0 Livingston McDiarmid Park
12:30 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier

Scottish League Cup

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Group stage

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6 October 2020 Group H Edinburgh City 1–5 Livingston Ainslie Park
19:45 Handling   70' (pen.) Report Robinson   7'
Mullin   22', 40'
Poplatnik   65'
Lokotsch   77'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Willie Collum
10 October 2020 Group H Livingston 2–1 Alloa Athletic Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Forrest   46'
Mullin   50'
Report Thomson   31' Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Muir
10 November 2020 Group H Stenhousemuir 0–4 Livingston Ochilview Park
19:30 Report Forrest   1', 8'
Poplatnik   30'
Taylor-Sinclair   65'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Colin Steven
14 November 2020 Group H Livingston 4–1 Airdrieonians Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Forrest   57', 83'
Emmanuel-Thomas   58' (pen.), 67'
Report Robert   52' Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro

Knockout rounds

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28 November 2020 Second round Livingston 4–0 Ayr United Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Chalmers   4' (o.g.)
Fitzwater   6', 12'
Forrest   44'
Report Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro
15 December 2020 Quarter-final Livingston 2–0 Ross County Almondvale Stadium
19:45 Sibbald   4'
Forrest   24'
Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
24 January 2021 Semi-final Livingston 1–0 St Mirren Hampden Park
16:00 Robinson   9' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro
Man of the Match: Robinson
28 February 2021 Final St Johnstone 1–0 Livingston Hampden Park
14:00 Rooney   32' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson

Scottish Cup

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3 April 2021 Third Round Livingston 2–1 (a.e.t.) Raith Rovers Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Fitzwater   70'
Poplatnik   109'
Report Vaughan   13' Attendance: 0
Referee: Bobby Madden
17 April 2021 Fourth Round Aberdeen 2–2
(5–3 p)
Livingston Pittodrie Stadium
17:30 McGinn   77'
Kamberi   95'
Report Emmanuel-Thomas   37', 93 pen.' Attendance: 0
Referee: Colin Steven

Squad statistics

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Appearances

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As of 15 May 2021

No. Pos Nat Player Total Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   SCO Robby McCrorie 18 0 16 0 1 0 1 0
2 DF   SCO Nicky Devlin 46 2 35+1 2 7+1 0 2 0
3 DF   NIR Ciaron Brown 18 1 13+3 1 0+2 0 0 0
4 DF   SCO Alan Lithgow 3 0 1+1 0 0 0 0+1 0
5 DF   ENG Jack Fitzwater 27 4 20 1 4+1 2 2 1
6 MF   ENG Marvin Bartley (c) 41 1 32+1 1 6 0 2 0
8 MF   SCO Scott Pittman 47 7 37+1 7 7 0 2 0
9 FW   ENG Jay Emmanuel-Thomas 31 9 14+10 5 3+2 2 2 2
10 MF   SCO Craig Sibbald 41 2 29+3 1 5+2 1 2 0
11 MF   SCO Alan Forrest 38 11 21+8 4 7 7 2 0
12 DF   FRA Julien Serrano 30 2 19+5 2 5+1 0 0 0
14 FW   SCO Josh Mullin 30 6 16+6 3 7 3 0+1 0
15 FW   SVN Matej Poplatnik 25 3 5+14 0 2+2 2 0+2 1
17 MF   SCO Scott Robinson 31 6 16+10 4 5 2 0 0
18 MF   SCO Jason Holt 37 1 24+4 1 4+3 0 2 0
19 FW   SCO Salim Kouider-Aissa 4 0 0+4 0 0 0 0 0
20 FW   SCO Gavin Reilly 7 0 3+2 0 0+2 0 0 0
21 DF   SCO Jack McMillan 12 0 4+4 0 2+1 0 0+1 0
22 MF   SCO Scott Tiffoney 13 1 4+7 1 1+1 0 0 0
23 MF   SCO Jackson Longridge 13 0 9+1 0 0+1 0 2 0
25 DF   NGA Efe Ambrose 28 0 17+5 0 4+2 0 0 0
27 DF   ENG Jon Guthrie 42 4 34 4 6 0 2 0
28 MF   FRA Djibril Diani 5 0 2+2 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
29 DF   SCO Aaron Taylor-Sinclair 11 1 6 0 2+2 1 0+1 0
32 GK   POL Max Stryjek 27 0 21 0 5 0 1 0
33 DF   TOG Steve Lawson 16 0 7+7 0 2 0 0 0
37 FW   IRL Jaze Kabia 9 1 1+7 1 0 0 0+1 0
39 MF   SCO Carlo Pignatiello 3 0 0+1 0 0+2 0 0 0
40 GK   SCO Gary Maley 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Players who left the club during the season
9 FW   SCO Lyndon Dykes 3 2 3 2 0 0 0 0
13 FW   GER Lars Lokotsch 5 1 2+2 0 0+1 1 0 0
16 MF   SCO Robbie Crawford 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
20 FW   TUN Aymen Souda 2 0 0+2 0 0 0 0 0
23 MF   ITA Raffaele De Vita 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0 0
30 GK   USA Brian Schwake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
38 FW   SCO Jack Hamilton 5 1 2+3 1 0 0 0 0

Team statistics

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
4 Aberdeen 38 15 11 12 36 38 −2 56 Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round
5 St Johnstone 38 11 12 15 36 46 −10 45 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round[b]
6 Livingston 38 12 9 17 42 54 −12 45
7 St Mirren 38 11 12 15 37 45 −8 45
8 Motherwell 38 12 9 17 39 55 −16 45
Source: [16]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-Head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification, second stage group allocation or relegation).[17]
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
  2. ^ St Johnstone qualified as the 2020–21 Scottish Cup winners.

League Cup table

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIV ALO EDI AIR STE
1 Livingston 4 4 0 0 0 15 3 +12 12 Qualification for the Second round 2–1 4–1
2 Alloa Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 9 5 +4 9 2–1 4–2
3 Edinburgh City 4 1 0 1 2 5 9 −4 4 1–5 2–2p
4 Airdrieonians 4 1 0 0 3 3 7 −4 3 0–2 0–1
5 Stenhousemuir 4 0 1 0 3 4 12 −8 2 0–4 0–2
Source: [18]
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.[19]

Transfers

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See also

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List of Livingston F.C. seasons

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b Rearranged match after postponement

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gary Holt leaves Livingston FC". Livingston FC. 26 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Twitter poll earns Livi keeper deal". BBC Sport. 27 May 2020.
  3. ^ "The people have spoken – Gary Maley stays!". Livingston FC. 27 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Marvin Bartley – Livingston FC Captain for 2020/21". Livingston FC. 10 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Lyndon Dykes: Queens Park Rangers sign Livingston striker". BBC Sport. 19 August 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Livingston: Anthony Stokes leaves without playing game". BBC Sport. 15 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Livi better away than at home this term - Holt". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (11 December 2020). "Martindale a changed man - Livi chief". BBC Scotland.
  9. ^ "FT - Livingston 2-2 Celtic". Twitter. 20 January 2021.
  10. ^ Watt, Martin (24 January 2021). "Livi edge St Mirren to reach final". BBC Scotland.
  11. ^ Livingston: - David Martindale deemed fit and proper by SFA, Kheredeine Idessane, BBC Sport, 26 January 2021
  12. ^ "Livi get first Pittodrie win since 2004". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Davidson reflects on 'magnificent' season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  14. ^ "SPFL Premiership fixtures for 2020/21". Livingston. 6 July 2020.
  15. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (7 August 2020). "Sturgeon criticises Aberdeen players after the game is called off following positive tests". BBC Scotland.
  16. ^ "Summary - Premiership". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  17. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group H". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Alan Forrest: Pre-Contract Agreement". Livingston FC. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Double delight as duo put pen to paper". Livingston FC. 8 July 2020.
  22. ^ "New Week – New Signing! Welcome, Salim Kouider-Aïssa". Livingston FC. 13 July 2020.
  23. ^ "Livingston sign goalkeeper Max Stryjek". BBC Sport. 20 July 2020.
  24. ^ "Jason Holt: Livingston sign experienced midfielder on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 11 August 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Lars Lokotsch and Julien Serrano join the Lions". Livingston F.C. 21 August 2020.
  26. ^ Mark, Hendry. "Ex-Celtic striker Anthony Stokes signs one-year deal at Livingston". Glasgow Evening Times. Glasgow Evening Times. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  27. ^ "Jay Emmanuel-Thomas: Livingston sign former Ipswich & Bristol City striker". BBC Sport. 30 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Josh Mullin: Midfielder back at Livingston after Ross County exit". BBC Sport. 5 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Livingston sign striker Gavin Reilly from Carlisle Utd". BBC Sport. 5 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Livingston: New signing Jaze Kabia may be loaned out". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  31. ^ "Jackson Longridge: Livingston re-sign 'infectious personality' after Bradford City release". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  32. ^ "Signing News: Craig Henderson". eaststirlingshirefc.co.uk. East Stirlingshire FC. 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Motherwell sign defender Ricki Lamie after Livingston departure". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  34. ^ "Steven Lawless: Burton Albion sign former Livingston winger on one-year contract". BBC Sport. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  35. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: East Kilbride boss confirms Chris Erskine set for FIFTH tier switch after Livingston exit". Daily Record. 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  36. ^ "Hakeem Odoffin: Hamilton sign defender from Livingston for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 31 July 2020.
  37. ^ a b "Cece Pepe & Dolly Menga Depart". Livingston FC. 21 August 2020.
  38. ^ "Aymen Souda Departs". 5 October 2020.
  39. ^ "Verstärkung aus Schottland: FSV Zwickau holt Lars Lokotsch". kicker (in German). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  40. ^ "Robbie Crawford makes Motherwell move permanent after Livingston release". BBC Sport. 1 February 2020.
  41. ^ "Robby McCrorie: Livingston re-sign Rangers goalkeeper on year-long loan". BBC Sport. 9 July 2020.
  42. ^ "Livingston sign defender Ciaron Brown on loan from Cardiff City". 21 July 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  43. ^ "Livingston: French midfielder Djibril Diani signs on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  44. ^ "Stewart signs on loan | Heart Of Midlothian Football Club". www.heartsfc.co.uk.
  45. ^ "East Fife take Livingston striker Jack Hamilton on loan". www.fifetoday.co.uk.
  46. ^ Carson, Callum (Sep 1, 2020). "Livingston keeper Brian Schwake's loan move to Linlithgow Rose hailed by bosses". Daily Record.
  47. ^ "Livingston striker Salim Kouider-Aissa signs one-year loan deal with Partick Thistle". Glasgow Times.
  48. ^ "Motherwell: Robbie Crawford joins on loan from Livingston". BBC Sport. 18 September 2020.
  49. ^ Oliver, David (9 October 2020). "Edinburgh City sign former Falkirk, Blackburn and Swindon midfielder Rafa de Vita on loan from Livingston". Edinburgh Evening News.
  50. ^ Collin, Iain (27 October 2020). "Raith Rovers strengthen their attacking options with the loan signing of Livingston striker Lars Lokotsch". The Courier.
  51. ^ "Jack Hamilton - Arbroath FC". Arbroath FC. 29 January 2020.
  52. ^ "Spiders Snap Up Salim Kouider-Aïssa". Queens Park FC. 9 March 2021.