Celtic, on a mission to make it ‘9 in a row’, were counted off by many after a difficult summer following several key exits. Rangers’ resurgence under Steven Gerrard has been majestic, but the Hoops’ Old Firm victory at Ibrox silenced the critics and brought them back in the driver’s seat to meet season objectives.
Kenny Dalglish, one of the club’s all-time greats, has heaped praise on Neil Lennon’s men for their spirited display on the road and believes the Bhoys have every possibility of going unbeaten in the league to grab their ninth successive honour.
“They played with real high tempo and closed out the play. They then capitalised when Rangers gifted them possession for the opening goal and hit them on the break to set up Johnny Hayes’ clincher. On that display, I can see them drawing no more than a couple of games here and there this season.”
The Scotsman penned in the Sunday Post (as quoted by the Daily Record).
The legendary Liverpool forward has not found any worthy competitor to match Celtic’s calibre including Rangers who might now have to beat the Hoops twice to reclaim the Premiership title.
Is Dalglish Right With The Unbeaten Claim?
It’s too early to predict whether the Parkhead side would be able to maintain their form all season, but the 68-year-old is not wrong either. Celtic roped in a few new faces who have attuned to Lennon’s strategy exquisitely, and the other outfits of the league are not even close in terms of quality.
Rangers are rebuilding the squad since the past three windows and have done a decent job in Europe too. But they still need time to adjust to the intensity of Scottish football and the gaffer is yet to find his best eleven having tied down an array of new names again this summer.
What Went Wrong For Rangers Against Their Famous Rivals?
The Hoops were humiliated at Ibrox last season, but the Northern Irishman has hit back this time severely. Gerrard, still pretty new to management, failed to figure out the best possible lineup for this electrifying contest. The new signings disappointed the home crowd, and Dalglish highlighted the same while analysing the outcome of this high-profile encounter.
“As a manager, you just hope that the new boys gel and get to grips, mentally, with the pressure of being at a big club. That’s something that can never be taken for granted. So the performance from most of his players last Sunday will have disappointed Steven.”
The result has indeed boosted the reigning champions while serving as an early-season blow for the Govan outfit.
