Gemmell backing Celtic in Boavista

CELTIC legend Tommy Gemmell is adamant that Liverpool are far superior to Boavista – and is confident the Portuguese club will be sent tumbling the way of the Merseyside giants tomorrow night.

Martin O'Neill's men once again find themselves up against it as they look to book their place in the UEFA Cup final after a 1-1 draw at Parkhead.

But Celtic came back from the same scoreline to beat Liverpool at Anfield in the quarter-final and Gemmell claimed this challenge would be much easier.

Gemmell told the Press Association: "I've got every confidence they will go through because of the previous results they have had.

"They have proved away from home that they can do the business and the one thing they know is that they need to score a goal that is the bottom line.

"They have to score a goal or two and not lose anything but if they can do it in Germany, Spain and England twice they can do it in Portugal.

"You saw the result against Liverpool at Celtic Park and everyone counted them out, and then they went down to Liverpool and did the business.

"Now in my mind Liverpool are a much superior side to Boavista so if they can do it against Liverpool, Blackburn, Stuttgart and Celta Vigo they can do it to Boavista.

"As far as I'm concerned I have every confidence they will go through and I believe they will have no problems doing it over there."

Gemmell was in the Celtic side which knocked Benfica out of the European Cup by a toss of a coin back in 1969 after they threw away a 3-0 lead from the first leg.

Celtic will need to show plenty of character after their crushing last-gasp defeat to Hearts on Saturday.