Brendan Rodgers has claimed that the Champions League needs Liverpool ahead of the club's return to the competition.

The Merseysiders play their first Champions League match since 2009 on Tuesday when they host Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad in Group B.

Following a five-year absence from European club football's top tournament, Rodgers believes that Liverpool will only enrich this season's competition.

"We're very excited to be in the Champions League. Five years is a long time to be out of it for a club like Liverpool," he is quoted as saying by Goal.com. "It is one of the great clubs with a rich European heritage, and the competition needs Liverpool in it.

"The key is to ensure we remain in it for the long term, and it is a challenge that excites us as well. For us there is no fear, we will embrace it."

Liverpool head into tomorrow night's match on the back of a 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League.