Arne Slot should be looking to win the Champions League in his second season, former Reds star Steve McManaman has insisted.
Liverpool's opponents in the league phase of Europe's premier competition were revealed on Thursday, with the club set to face the likes of Real Madrid, setting up a potential Anfield reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Merseysiders were eliminated from the Champions League last term in the round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain, and there is an expectation that the team will do better in this season's edition.
Speaking to Sports Mole, McManaman argued that the team's transfer business this summer dictates that they should be looking to win the competition, saying: "Arne Slot should be looking to win it, definitely. Liverpool have invested heavily and I expect them to have new players in by the time the transfer window closes.
"Slot should absolutely be earmarking the Champions League, as well as the Premier League, as the competitions to win. He has to earmark them."
Slot has added significantly to his squad, and should the club complete a record deal for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, the Reds' expenditure could exceed £400m this summer.
Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman before the Premier League football match between Liverpool and Newcastle United, on February 27, 2025
Liverpool's Champions League group assessed
While Real Madrid are Liverpool's standout opponent in the league phase, they will also face the likes of Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.
In last season's tournament, 16 points was enough to finish in one of the eight automatic qualification spots to the round of 16, and the Reds finished first in the league phase with 21 points from 24.
McManaman expressed his view that Slot should comfortably navigate the first phase of the competition, when he told Sports Mole: "Liverpool's group is good. They play against the best teams at home, which is great. They don't have to play in the Carabao Cup [until later], which will help when coming back to the Premier League.
"The standout away games are Galatasaray and Inter Milan, but they won in the San Siro last year. PSV, they've played before, and this time they've got them at home. Marseille will be a good tie."
Liverpool will face Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Qarabag FK at Anfield, and they will take on Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray away from home.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during his side's UEFA Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield, on November 5, 2024
Can Liverpool beat Paris Saint-Germain and win the Champions League?
Liverpool beat PSG 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash in France on March 5, before losing a penalty shootout against the Ligue 1 side after they were sank 1-0 on March 11.
The tie's winners were crowned champions of Europe, and the Merseysiders' exit from the competition at such an early stage should not necessarily be seen as failure given the qualities of the stars at French club.
Though many see PSG as favourites this term, McManaman insisted that Liverpool should take confidence from their performances in 2024-25, telling Sports Mole: "Slot tried to prioritise the Champions League last year, but he just lost on penalties to the team that went and eventually won it.
"He'll certainly be looking to do the same thing again. The draw that Liverpool got, like most teams in this new format, throws up some really good ties, some difficult ties, some few easier ties and some middle of the road ties."
Slot will take charge of his first Champions League game in the middle of September, and perhaps his team's chances of progressing far in the tournament will depend on the favourability of their knockout draw should they qualify.
Steve McManaman was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of bet365, Official Global Partner of the UEFA Champions League. This season, bet365 will be once again running the Big Ticket Giveaway game giving fans the chance to win tickets to every single UEFA Champions League match starting with the Round 1 ballot which opens on 31st August. Registration Required. T&Cs Apply, 18+. GambleAware.org
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