New Liverpool signing Clyne says challenging for the title is the aim

By foxsports
Published

Nathaniel Clyne says Liverpool's season aim should be to challenge for the Premier League title and make the final of a cup competition.

Clyne joined Liverpool for £12.5million from Southampton earlier in the summer and is in line to make his competitive debut for the club alongside several other new signings in Sunday's opening game at Stoke.

The Reds finished a disappointing sixth last season, but Clyne believes Brendan Rodgers will be targeting much loftier heights this time around.

"With the squad that we have, I would like to think that we'll look to win every competition that we're in," Clyne told the official Liverpool FC Magazine.

"Our aim has to be a title challenge and trying to make the final of one of the cup competitions, while doing as well as we can in the Europa League.

"My main objective for this season is to establish myself as a Liverpool player.

"If I can do that, hopefully I can be part of the England squad at next summer's Euros.

"I know that's not going to be easy as there are a lot of quality players fighting for positions in that squad at the end of the season.

"But that's for down the line. First and foremost, I've got a job to do this season and I can't wait to get started."

While Clyne is hoping for a title challenge this season, Peter Crouch has warned his former club will find it difficult to even get back into the Champions League.

"A club like Liverpool should be competing in the Champions League," the 34-year-old said in the Daily Mirror. They've got a good squad full of world-class players, and on their day they can beat anyone.

"They have improved from last season, but it's going to be tough. United and City are spending money, Chelsea are strengthening too, so it's going to be difficult for them.

"I would love to see them do it. I was lucky enough to play when we qualified every year and I think that's where they should be. Hopefully, they will get there."

Crouch was on target on the final day of last season when Stoke thrashed Liverpool 6-1, but the striker is not expecting such an easy afternoon this time around.

"It was a surreal day, but we're not expecting that again," he added. "It will be a tough game.

"We've been fantastic at home against the big teams, so hopefully we can keep that going."