Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic visit Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox next week.
Kenny Dalglish has told The Sunday Post that Graeme Murty deserves credit for the good work he has done with Rangers and believes that the Gers could push his old side Celtic close in this weekend’s Old Firm clash.
Both Scottish giants renew hostilities at Ibrox on Sunday in a game which could have big implications on the Scottish Premiership title race.
Celtic are only six points ahead of the Gers at the moment – albeit with a game in hand – and Brendan Rodgers’s side might need to beat Rangers to kill off their slim chances of a huge upset once and for all.
But beating Murty’s troops will be anything but easy.
Rangers are enjoying a six-match winning streak in all competitions after Sunday’s 4-1 win over Falkirk, with the Ibrox side netting 23 goals during that period and conceding six.
They are bang in form at the moment as a result of the great work the 43-year-old has done since replacing Pedro Caixinha in October, and Celtic icon Dalglish believes that his former club have a job on their hands to stop Murty and co this weekend.
“They beat Rangers 5-1 on two occasions last season. I can’t see that being the case next Sunday at Ibrox. One of the reasons for that is Graeme Murty,” he told The Sunday Post.
“He appears to really have something going on at Rangers, and the proof is in the results. Graeme is taking them in the right direction, and has done a more-than-favourable job since he was given the post back in December.
“Compared to five or six months ago under Pedro Caixinha, the Rangers squad looks stronger, better and happier. The players would appear to like Murty. However, it’s also about how you define the word “like” in this situation.
“Celtic, as league leaders and Champions for the past six years, will go into the game, I would imagine, as the bookies’ favourites. But it’s a tight call.”
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