Former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman has dismissed Premier League clubs' chances in the Champions League this season.

McManaman won the competition with Real.

He told the Sunday World: “English clubs are miles behind the top two or three teams in Europe right now and I don't see that changing.

“When I looked at the Premier League teams this season, the word I would use to describe most of them is average and many of them are worse than that.

“They are nowhere near Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich and that belief is confirmed when you look at their record in the Champions League in recent years.

“Chelsea may look like they are perfectly set up to do well in Europe as they hit teams on the counter attack and have had a lot of success doing it.

“Yet I don't think their defence would be up to it. Real Madrid, Juventus and the a few more are better teams, it's as simple as that.

“The Premier League might still be the most exciting to watch, but it's a long way from being the best at this moment."