Kenny Dalglish backs Ronny Deila for Scottish Cup semi-final glory

Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish believes Parkhead boss Ronny Deila is ready to grasp the opportunity presented by Sunday's showdown with Rangers.

Deila and his team took another step towards five-in-a-row with Saturday's 2-1 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park, a win which lifted them eight points clear at the top of the Premiership table.

But there remain question marks over his long-term future with the champions due to his poor record in European competitions.

However, Dalglish believes the Norwegian will realise he can ease some of the weight on his shoulders by beating Mark Warburton's side in this weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final, live on Sky Sports.

The Hoops favourite, who scored 167 goals in 322 games for the club between 1969-1977, said: "I think it's an important match for Ronny but I'm sure he won't underestimate it. He had his first taste of it last year so he knows what it's about.

"He understands Celtic, he's been there for a couple of years and he knows what the club stands for and what this game means."

The weekend game will be only the second meeting between the sides since Rangers were consigned to liquidation following their financial meltdown in 2012.

Deila's champions-elect are hot favourites to follow up last year's 2-0 League Cup victory with another win at Hampden but Dalglish insists the Ibrox men will be under just as much pressure as their rivals.

"In an Old Firm game, there is pressure on everybody," added Dalglish, who guided the Hoops to League Cup success during a brief spell in charge of the club in 1999-2000.

"Nobody is going to grab any bonus points by saying, 'We're Rangers, we're just a Championship team, we're not under any pressure'. Ask the supporters if they are under any pressure. It's the same for Celtic. Celtic are under pressure because they want to win too."

Celtic could not have had it any easier when they met Rangers last February - a match in which the Championship side failed to have one shot on target in the entire 90 minutes - but most Light Blues supporters were just glad to see their vastly under-equipped team not suffer a heavier beating.

However, Dalglish, who won four Scottish Cup winners' medals at Parkhead before heading for a glittering spell with Liverpool, feels this week's match-up will be a closer affair.

He said: "The game last year was really a 2-0 drubbing for Rangers. But they have been fantastic this year with the brand of football they have played. James Tavernier at right-back is one of their top scorers with double figures.

"They have got a really good philosophy under Mark Warburton. But whether that is good enough to compete with Celtic remains to be seen.

"They had a game against St Johnstone where they lost 3-1 but then beat Dundee 4-0 in the Scottish Cup. Dundee drew with Celtic just a week ago, so you've got to give them a chance.

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"It will be interesting to see how they react to playing Celtic, as they are the best team in the Premiership."