Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James has backed Jurgen Klopp's side to launch a serious title challenge in the Premier League next season.

The Reds laboured to a disappointing eighth-place finish during the 2015-16 campaign, but did manage to reach the final of the League Cup and the Europa League under Klopp.

Defeats in both of those finals means that they will have no European football next term, but James believes that could prove to be an advantage for their title hopes.

"The focus next season without having European football, akin to Leicester, will help Jurgen with his bid to win what has to be the holy grail for Liverpool – the Premier League," he told talkSPORT.

"I'm pretty sure most Liverpool fans would rather have a Premier League title rather than another Champions League title at the moment because it something that Liverpool haven't won. The progress last season was great because if you think about the amount of rotations he made... he gave everybody a chance to prove themselves and in the end they missed out on winning two trophies in the final.

"I think next season will be a good one for him. The recruitment will be key more importantly the quality of the coaching on the training field will put Liverpool in a good position to challenge."

Liverpool have not won the league title since 1990.