Liverpool will finish in the top four, declares Ray Houghton

Ray Houghton is fully expecting Liverpool to finish in the top four this season, despite the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

The Reds ended up just two points behind champions Manchester City last season as they established themselves as genuine contenders for the top-flight crown.

They’ve got a much stronger squad than last season

Ray Houghton

And although questions about Liverpool’s ability to compete this term have been raised following Suarez’s big-money move to Spain, ex-midfielder Houghton is sure Brendan Rodgers’ men will secure Champions League qualification at the very least.

“Yes, for me they will [finish in the top four],” Houghton told talkSPORT.

“They may be below Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Man United in the bookies’ eyes, but I don’t see it that way at all.

“They’ve got a much stronger squad than last season. Sure, they’re just missing a key ingredient in Luis Suarez, but they’ll still be very competitive.

“It’s not a concern for me that they haven’t replaced Suarez. In many ways you can’t replace a player like Suarez, just like how you can’t replace a Rush or a Dalglish.

“What you can do is bring others in to play around the strikers who can all do a good job and score enough goals to get you to where you want to be. I think Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho will be huge for Liverpool this season in that respect.”