John Barnes considers Liverpool to be the most feared side in Europe, with Jurgen Klopp’s troops destined to enjoy another positive run in Champions League competition.
The Reds boast a rich history of success in continental football, with the ultimate prize collected on five previous occasions.
They came agonisingly close to adding to that tally in 2017-18, with only the dominance of Spanish giants Real Madrid denying them in a memorable final.
Liverpool now know who they will face at the first hurdle in this year’s campaign, with the group stage draw pitting them against Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Crvena Zvezda.
There are some tough tests to come in that section, but Barnes believes Klopp’s side – who have enjoyed a faultless start to the Premier League season – will ease their way to the knockout stage.
The former Reds midfielder told talkSPORT: “It could have been easier, or it could have been harder.
“In Napoli and PSG they have two very good sides; though Napoli probably are not as strong as they were a couple of years ago.
“So it’s going to be difficult.
“But the thing with Liverpool is that more people fear Liverpool now than I think any other team in Europe, in a one-off [fixture].
“Of course we lost the Champions League final, but if you look at the passion the team played with, the aggression and the intensity, then teams wouldn’t want to play Liverpool.
“So it could have been an easier draw, but I think Liverpool will be confident of getting through that group.”
Liverpool made it to the Champions League final last season having started their campaign in the play-offs.
This time around, they will open their European adventure on September 16 at home to PSG.
Prior to that, the Reds have two testing Premier League away games to take in, with Leicester set to be faced at the King Power Stadium on Saturday before Klopp’s side then travel to Wembley to take on Tottenham.