Monday 15 September 2014 17:35, UK
Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness is tipping Liverpool to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League on their return to the elite level.
The five-times European champions are competing in the Champions League for the first time in five seasons and their former midfielder and manager expects Brendan Rodgers' side to make a big impression.
Souness told Sky Sports News HQ: "The team selected on Saturday did not get a result against Aston Villa but Brendan could field the same team in the Champions League and they could go out and get a great result and no-one would question him.
I can seeing them getting to the semi-finals of the European Cup if they finish second in their group behind Real Madrid and depending on who they get in the draw.
"Liverpool, I think, will have a very good season this year and I can seeing them getting to the semi-finals of the European Cup if they finish second in their group behind Real Madrid and depending on who they get in the draw.
"I can speak from experience, there is nothing like Anfield on a European night. Momentum is a great thing to have in football especially at a club like Liverpool and the way the supporters get behind you on European nights.
"I think they can have a good season and if they start scoring goals they can have a good season in the Premier League. I don't think they will win it but finishing in the top four will be another great season for them."
Liverpool lost at home to Aston Villa at the weekend but Souness insists that Rodgers must be given time to work out his best first XI after a summer of heavy recruitment, having left Raheem Sterling on the bench.
"Villa had a game plan and stuck to it and they enjoyed a wee bit of luck," he said.
"Normally Liverpool start like a house on fire in the first 20 minutes but that did not happen on Saturday. The longer the game went on the more confident Villa got and they defended very well.
"No-one is qualified to say whether Rodgers picked the wrong team. He will need time to work out what is his best team and what are his best combinations in all areas of the pitch.
"He's lost Daniel Sturridge to injury on England duty and the last thing he wants is to lose another player like Sterling. He's the only one qualified to make the call whether Sterling starts.
"On another day he comes off the bench and scores the goal then you say 'what a great bit of management'. On this occasion it didn't happen, but that's football."
