Tony Pulis: 'Liverpool strong contenders for Premier League title'

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has claimed that Liverpool's lack of European football this season has left them in a good position to end their long-running wait for Premier League success.

The Reds sit two points off the summit in fourth place after losing just one of their opening eight games this term, while also progressing in the EFL Cup.

Liverpool play host to West Brom on Saturday aiming to continue their push for a first Prem crown, with Pulis concluding that the Merseyside outfit have a clear advantage over their rivals in the long run.

"They've got a great chance [of winning the title]," he told reporters. "They're not involved in Europe. The last time they weren't in Europe and had a squad as strong as this, they came very close under Brendan [Rodgers].

"Jurgen [Klopp]'s passionate, which is brilliant. You want that passion. It's an important part of their club."

Liverpool have failed to beat Albion in any of the past three meetings, last picking up all three points in October 2014 when Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson were on target in a 2-1 victory.