The Reds return to Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in five years next season in pot three of the draw, making a tough group assignment likely

Brendan Rodgers expects Liverpool to be tough to beat in the Champions League next season as he looks to turn them into a leading club in Europe.

The Reds boss was rewarded with a new long-term contract on Monday after leading the Anfield club back to the Champions League with a second-place finish in the Premier League, ending a five-year absence from Europe’s premier club competition.

Liverpool narrowly missed out on the league title to Manchester City, with a home defeat against Chelsea and a dramatic collapse in a 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace in the penultimate game of the season effectively ending their hopes of winning a first English top-flight crown for 24 years.

Rodgers is eager to atone for that near-miss and win the Premier League next season, but also has high hopes for the Merseyside club’s Champions League campaign.

Liverpool have won the competition five times but are expected to enter the group stage in pot three, meaning that they will likely face a difficult assignment to qualify for the last 16.

But Rodgers is hopeful that the legendary Anfield atmosphere in continental clashes will have an impact on their fortunes.

“We’re into the Champions League. Our dream and goal is to win the Premier League,” Rodgers told the club’s official website.

“That’s what we want to do. We’ve shown this season that we can compete for that. With some new additions in the summer, we believe that we can fight again.

“The objective for me was to try to get Liverpool established again as one of the leading clubs in European and domestic football and we’re on course for that.

“I’ve seen the games before and I’ve been fortunate enough to have been at Anfield on a Champions League occasion and they are truly special occasions.

“You see the support the players get. Throughout my time here, in the big games, the supporters really show how passionate they are and they show why they are the great set of supporters that they are.

“We’ll really look forward to it. We know that, in the Champions League, if we can perform well away from home, that in the home games, we’re going to be hard to beat because of the supporters and the quality of the team.”

The striker sees no reason why the Three Lions cannot mount a challenge in Brazil despite their status as outsiders after coming agonisingly close to a league title with the Reds

Daniel Sturridge has called on England to follow Liverpool’s example and mount an unlikely challenge for World Cup glory.

Sturridge formed one half of a lethal strike partnership with Luis Suarez at Anfield this season as the Reds came agonisingly close to claiming a first top-flight title since 1990.

Buoyed by a return of 21 Premier League goals, the former Chelsea forward sees no reason why England cannot mount a similar challenge despite their status as outsiders.

“There are other nations that are in a similar situation to us,” he told reporters. “There are no real favourites at this World Cup. Everyone’s got a chance.

“It’s like when you look at the Premier League last season. Nobody would’ve said Liverpool would be challenging or have a chance of winning it. So regardless of whether we have pressure or not, whether people are saying we’ll win it or we won’t – it doesn’t matter.

“It’s a different level of football to the Premier League. You have to understand, it’s everyone’s dream to play in the World Cup. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a kid, so for me I’m just excited about it.”

Rather than dwelling on the disappointment of missing out on the title, Sturridge insists Liverpool have started to appreciate what they achieved in securing a return to the Champions League.

He added: “It was boxed off the day after we lost it. You’ve got to move on. Your lives have to move on.

“It obviously wasn’t a great feeling, but we set ourselves the target of getting into the Champions League and we achieved that, so everybody’s content.

“But sometimes you get so close, you feel like you’ve almost won it and then don’t achieve that – it’s disappointing.”

The northern Irishman had been due to enter the final year of his contract this summer but the Reds have moved quickly to tie their manager to a longer deal

Brendan Rodgers has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, the club have confirmed.

Rodgers, who was widely praised for leading the Reds to the brink of a first league title in 24 years last season, had been due to enter the final year of his contract this summer.

But the northern Irishman revealed that he would hold talks with the club over an extension at the end of the campaign and Liverpool have moved swiftly to tie him down for the long term.

“I am both humbled and privileged to be offered the chance to extend my stay at this great club. I am very happy to build on the foundations we have built over the last two years and now we move onto the next phase which I believe will be as exciting, challenging and rewarding,” Rodgers told the club’s official website.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to the players and staff, who have been absolutely brilliant for me since the day I started at this great football club. I am grateful to our owners and senior management team who have supported me and who share my vision of how we can progress on the field.

“Finally, I must thank the supporters who are at the heart of everything we do here. I am honoured every day to lead this team and I thank the fans for their continued support as together we strive to bring  success back to Liverpool Football Club.”

Liverpool owner John W. Henry and chairman Tom Werner added: “We are very fortunate to have a hugely talented individual leading our football performance and in whom we place our trust to deliver the vision we share for Liverpool Football Club.

“Brendan is at the heart of what we, as an ownership group, are trying to achieve on the pitch. This season has reaffirmed everyone’s belief that we can bring football success to Liverpool and we are all committed to working together to achieve that.

“Players and supporters have made it clear how important Brendan is to our success and so to have him commit to us for the long term is a great boost for everyone going forward.”