Maloney was excellent in the debut for Celtic's new strip

Doubles from Alan Thompson and Shaun Maloney set Celtic on their way to an emphatic victory that swung the pendulum back in their favour at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Celtic not only overtook Rangers to go three points clear but turned a two-goal deficit into a two-goal advantage should the two sides be equal on points at the end of the season.

Martin O'Neill's side also now have scored more than their city rivals as they threw down the gauntlet before Rangers travel to face Hearts looking to win by the two goals they need from their game in hand.

Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby were the other scorers at Celtic Park as Rangers were left cursing a series of missed chances during their 4-0 defeat of Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Celtic might also rue the loss of a last-minute goal by Lee Mair for a Dundee side that appeared to have their minds on their forthcoming Scottish Cup final appearance.

No Mair misery for O'Neill

But, for now, O'Neill's side can head with a spring in their step for Seville, where goalkeeper Rab Douglas will hope to feature after returning from injury to sit on the bench against Dundee.

Javier Sanchez Broto, cup-tied for the Uefa Cup final, continued in goal and, with Chris Sutton suspended and John Hartson injured, Maloney was given a rare start up front.

Dundee rested influential midfielder Georgi Nemsadze and were missing injured striker Stuart Lovell.

His replacement, former Celtic striker Mark Burchill, was denied by Broto before Celtic's pressure produced a 14th-minute opener.

Larsson beat the offside trap to pull down Alan Thompson's chip over the defence, rounded goalkeeper Julian Speroni and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

But the home crowd was silenced after 26 minutes, when Novo left Joos Valgaeren trailing before squaring to Barry Smith, who wrong-footed Broto from 15 yards.

The former Celtic defender looked slightly embarrassed, but the home side's blushes were spared a minute later.

Barry Smith and Henrik Larsson both scored at Celtic Park

Larsson directed Stilian Petrov's cross into Thompson's path and the midfielder stooped to head home from five yards.

Thompson's second came three minutes later, sending Didier Agathe's cross into the back of the net with his weaker right foot.

Scotland defender Lee Wilkie suffered a nightmare against Rangers earlier in the month and gifted Celtic their fourth goal seven minutes after the break.

He tried to dribble out of his own penalty box and lost the ball to Maloney, who slotted the ball past Speroni.

The Scotland Under-21 striker added his second after 63 minutes, being sent clear by Thompson before side-footing the ball into the far corner of the net.

Wilkie was substituted soon after as he at least was spared further suffering.

Agathe's cross was headed back across the face of the goal by Bobo Balde for Mjallby to side-foot home after 77 minutes.

Dundee striker Nacho Novo missed his second great chance of the half before Jonay Hernandez crossed for Mair to head home seconds before the end.

Celtic: Broto, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Maloney (Smith 82).
Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNamara, Fernandez, Crainey.

Booked: Thompson.

Goals: Larsson 14, Thompson 27, 30, Maloney 52, 63, Mjallby 77.

Dundee: Speroni, Smith, Wilkie (Brady 69), Khizanishvili (Forbes 55), Hernandez Santos, Mackay, Rae, Mair, Novo, Milne, Burchill (Carranza 72).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Nemsadze.

Goals: Smith 26, Mair 90.

Attendance: 57,542

Referee: T Brown.