LONDON • Liverpool great Graeme Souness believes Chelsea represent the greatest threat to the Reds' title hopes this season.

Liverpool, who were last crowned champions of England in 1990, are second in the table, a point behind leaders Chelsea.

Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-0 last weekend but saw star playmaker Philippe Coutinho suffer an ankle injury in the process.

The Brazilian has scored five league goals this season but Souness said the club have the resources to cope with the forward's absence.

"Of course it's a blow. But I was (Liverpool) captain there and regarded as one of the better players and I was out for 10 games and they won every single one of them," said Souness, now a pundit with Sky Sports.

"At the start of the season I would have signed up for finishing in the top four, but now I'm looking for a wee bit more," explained Souness, who won five league titles and three European Cups during his time at Anfield.

"But we're not even in December... So to start picking a winner now is really hard.

"But of the candidates, Chelsea look scary to me. They don't have to have all of the ball to win games. Liverpool do, Manchester City do, Arsenal do. Chelsea play in a pragmatic way, they are hard to beat.

"They all seem to know what they are doing now and Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are real threats."

Souness, who had a spell as Liverpool manager from 1991 to 1994, is impressed by the way boss Jurgen Klopp had settled in at Anfield.

"I think he's the perfect fit for that club," said Souness of the German.

"He's a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and he's at a very emotional football club. I think it's working beautifully right now." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

CHELSEA MAY GIVE REDS THE BLUES

To start picking a winner now is really hard. But of the candidates, Chelsea look scary to me.

'' GRAEME SOUNESS, former Reds captain and manager, on the biggest threat to Liverpool's title challenge.