Celtic cut Hearts' lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to two points with a 5-0 hammering of Livingston yesterday.

In another one-sided encounter, Rangers thumped Dunfermline 5-1 at Ibrox.

Hearts, who have 24 points from eight matches, play at Falkirk today.

Stephen McManus headed Celtic in front in the first half before hosts Livingston were sunk by a deluge of goals in the second period.

Shaun Maloney hit the second and Pole Maciej Zurawski made it 3-0 with a 51st-minute header.

Chris Sutton and Craig Beattie were also on target as second-placed Celtic took their points tally to 22 from nine games.

Rangers maintained their 33-year unbeaten record against Dunfermline at Ibrox thanks to goals from Belgian Thomas Buffel, Croatian Dado Prso, Argentine Federico Nieto, Dane Peter Lovenkrands and Ross McCormack.

Dunfermline substitute Noel Hunt got their only goal with the score at 2-1 early in the second half.

But the victory came at a price as Rangers and Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson picked up an injury and is in doubt ahead of the World Cup qualifiers at home to Belarus on October 8 and away to Slovenia four days later.

Ten-man Aberdeen drew 2-2 at home to Motherwell despite Richie Byrne being dismissed.