Rangers' hectic schedule caught up with them at Almondvale as they slumped to a surprise 0-0 draw.
Playing their third game in just seven days the Ibrox men looked jaded as they failed to take advantage of their dominance.
With Michael Mols and Shota Arveladze both missing, the strike partnership of Egil Ostenstad and Nuno Capucho failed to seriously test a well marshalled Livingston defence, as the Ibrox side slipped further back in the title race.
The result could have been so different had home midfielder Lee Makel not weakly struck a penalty which Stefan Klos turned round his left-hand upright.
Rangers took just two minutes to threaten with Ostenstad doing some good work on the right before the ball broke to Mikel Arteta whose snap shot from the edge of the area forced a sold save from Roddy McKenzie.
Derek Lilley and Marvin Andrews were both wide of the mark for Livingston before, after 21 minutes, the home side were awarded a penalty when Fernando Ricksen tripped Jamie McAllister.
The visitors were let off the hook when Klos turned Makel's poor penalty effort round for a corner.
Two minutes later David McNamee and Craig Moore were both booked, McNamee for a challenge on Klos and Mooore for retaliating.
Rangers had a great chance after half an hour but when a dangerous free-kick from Emerson evaded the entire Livingston defence, but Ibrox striker Nuno Capucho did their job for them as he somehow managed to clear the ball rather than direct it anywhere near goal.
Five minutes later Capucho wasted another golden opportunity when he fired over the bar after some good build up from Ostenstad and Paolo Vanoli.
Five minutes before the interval Makel brushed off three would be Rangers tacklers but his right-foot shot was comfortably saved by Klos.
A minute before the break David Fernandez released McNamee, but the Livingston defender handled the ball as he tried to round Klos.
Rangers continued to dominate possession after the interval, but rarely came close to seriously threatening although Ostenstad produced a good reflex save from McKenzie after Arteta, Capucho and Christian Nerlinger all combined to set the Norwegian up for a snap close-range shot.
Arteta shot wide after 62 minutes as Rangers continued to press and McKenzie was called into action once more after 76 minutes when Michael Ball broke out of defence to set up Ostenstad but the Norwegian shot straight at the Livingston keeper.
Three minutes from time, Arteta had another great chance to win the game but somehow contrived to shoot wide from only six yards out and Livingston held on.