Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman has urged the Merseyside outfit to take the Europa League seriously and go for glory.

The Reds failed to qualify for the Champions League last season, but have been handed a spot in the second-tiered competition.

McManaman has criticised the view that the Europa League causes more hassle than it's worth due to the extra games and, at times, lengthy travelling.

The 43-year-old believes that Liverpool should put the competition as a priority as whoever wins the trophy will be awarded a spot in the Champions League.

"The fact that the winners go into the Champions League has certainly added to the prestige of the competition," McManaman told the Liverpool Echo.

"I don't like it when teams look upon the Europa League as getting in the way of league games. Why work so hard to qualify for Europe and then not give it a real go? This is a trophy Liverpool should be looking to win."

Liverpool will begin their campaign with a Group B match against Bordeaux on Thursday.