Kenny Dalglish watched theRangers escape from Anfield with a very flattering 2-0 scoreline for Liverpool last week and reckons that the pointless and goalless latest Ibrox outfit are heading for the European exit door over the next few weeks. The former Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland legend reckons that theRangers will need to pick up four points in their three remaining Champions League matches, including a home win over Ajax and he just can’t see that happening.
King Kenny however is much more optimistic about his old club’s chances as he reckons that Celtic are more than capable of winning at Paradise against both RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk and that seven points might just do it as far as Celtic making the Champions League knock-out rounds is concerned.
However if the Hoops go into matchday six – where it’s a visit to play Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – needing something from the game to qualify, then it might be a bridge too far for the Scottish Champions and cinch Premiership league leaders who after that dramatic day in Perth yesterday reamin two points clear at the top of the league looking down on theRangers.
“At the moment, I’d say (the)Rangers are battling to finish in third place,” King Kenny stated in his weekly newspaper column in Sunday Post. “Right now they are looking at finishing bottom. If they can beat Ajax at Ibrox later this month then they will have a chance. However, they will need at least four points from their remaining three games.
“I think Celtic are in a better place and look likelier to stay in the tournament. They have a point from their away game at Shakhtar Donetsk. They may well feel they should have at least one more draw and that’s an understandable outlook.
“It may well be that seven points could see them finish runners-up to Real Madrid. That’s why it’s vital they win their next two games – at Parkhead against RB Leipzig and then Shakhtar.
“It’s a tall order but not impossible. If they are trying to do it without Callum McGregor then that makes it all the harder. Callum is central to everything they do and he makes the team tick. He is a fine operator at Champions League level. With him available due to injury, then it’s up to others to step up to the mark.
“I have a good feeling Celtic can do it. They are now in a three-team tournament and they can win their next two games. But maybe they need to be a wee bit more compact than they were at certain times in Leipzig the other night in the 3-1 defeat.
“They may well need something from their final game, away to Real Madrid, and that might be a step too far. But you never know.
“I don’t feel the same confidence for (the)Rangers. I was at Anfield last midweek and Liverpool were comfortable winners. The 2-0 scoreline flattered (the)Rangers,” Kenny Dalglish stated.
