Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has backed his former side to improve on their eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Manager Jurgen Klopp was unable to secure European football for the club after his arrival in October but Riise - who played for Liverpool between 2001 and 2008 - thinks that the Reds will start to develop into a team that is ready to challenge for the league title in the 2017-18 campaign.

The 35-year-old told Sky Sports News: "I'm a big fan. I said when he arrived last year that he needed some time to get his own players into the club and this season, I think we will see a different Liverpool.

"I don't think that they can challenge for the title this year but I think they could next year. He wants to fight and to work hard. He came in last year and he probably trained them too hard because he came in the middle of the season but after a full pre-season, I think things will be different."

Riise recently announced that he was taking a break from football but he could return to the sport in the near future.