Liverpool news: BBC Sport pundit reveals one big reason Reds may falter in title race

That is the opinion of BBC Sport pundit and former Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend.

Liverpool are the second favourites with the bookies to win the Premier League for the first time.

Both the Reds and last season’s champions Manchester City got their campaigns off to a winning start on Sunday.

Liverpool brushed aside West Ham 4-0 at Anfield and were typically gung-ho in and out of possession.

However, Townsend doubts whether the players will be able to keep up that intensity throughout the season.

And he says the World Cup this summer could also have a negative impact.

“There’s no doubt, when you watch Liverpool now, they are a team that get you on the edge of your seat,” Townsend said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“They are an exciting team to watch, they are the sort of team you’d love to support right now. So it’s all up, up and away.

“Whether they can play at the rate of knots, the demands Jurgen Klopp puts on the team, consistently, post-World Cup.

“You will see players playing for their clubs this season all of a sudden in October, November, are going to start finding it tough.

“They might have injuries, they might run out of a bit of gas, he might have to shuffle the pack. So, that can happen.

“When they play with their foot to the floor and they’re are their very best, I don’t think there is a more exciting team to watch.

“I’d include the champions in that, I really would.”

Liverpool’s next Premier League game is against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park next Monday.

Roy Hodgson’s side got their campaign off to a winning start on Saturday.

Goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha helped them beat Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage.