Will Champions League return hurt Liverpool’s title challenge?

Yes, we're back after five years, and yes, we want a homecoming of gigantic proportions – a win, no less.

That is the weight on Red's manager, Brendan Rodgers' shoulders ahead of his Champions League debut against Ludogorets Razgrad at Anfield tonight.

Following a humble defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend, various reports question his decision to exclude Raheem Sterling from the starting line-up.

A strategic plan that didn't pay off, notwithstanding the absence of Daniel Sturridge, Joe Allen and Emre Can who picked up injuries during the international break. The Reds were a shadow of their former selves in the final third where they famously thrived and flew off the blocks last season.

Lest we forget, Liverpool are now without one of the world's best players but instead, have six new signings on the pitch.

Watching the game past midnight in the wee hours of Sunday, I hoped in vain that Liverpool would not suffer Tottenham's grim fate after Gareth Bale's exit last season as Gabriel Agbonlahor unconvincingly netted the ball through a sloppy defence.

Can this new back line sustain us through Real Madrid's attack on Champions League nights? It's back to the drawing board for the coaching staff.

Losing two of four opening matches is hardly stuff title contenders are made of. Those Victor Valdes rumours better be true, as Simon Mignolet has been nothing short of disappointing lately.

On paper, Ludogorets seem a fairly manageable opponent. For starters, the Bulgarian outfit are newcomers to the tournament, they've never played in England and are in the midst of a goalkeeping crisis. First choice keeper Vladislav Stoyanov serves a one match suspension while second in line Ivan Cvorovic, has a shoulder injury.

Rodgers has paid his dues, and credit to him for pulling the Reds out of its European rut. Now, to short-live that success by losing on opening night? Not a chance.

Sterling is hands down the best player Liverpool has right now and I appreciate the need to protect him. With strong ambitions to follow in group rivals Madrid's footsteps as Europe's champions, anything can happen and happen it will if we've learnt anything from football on the long road to Berlin next June.

A good result against Ludogorets will set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

After which, recovery-willing, Sturridge will be fit enough to start against Basel at the start of October. Not to be dismissed lightly, the Swiss side knocked out Manchester United awhile back at the same stage of the competition, while beating Chelsea home and away in their Champions League campaign last season.

There is no denying how fantastic it is to be competing amongst Europe's elite once more.

How Rodgers balances that without compromising a top four finish in the Premier League, is yet to be seen. Essentially, he needs his new attacking trio Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic and Mario Balotelli to pull their socks up.

It's still early days to be disheartened over the loss to Villa.

So here's a positive outlook as we go forth. In the corresponding Premier League matches last season – Southampton (H), Manchester City (A), Tottenham (A), and Aston Villa (H) – Liverpool only picked up four points. This time, six.

In the words of Steven Gerrard: "We go again!" – thekopsalad.com, September 16, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.