Liverpool could win Champions League according to former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand

Liverpool breezed into the last eight of the competition on Tuesday night

Salah's goal will be essential if Liverpool are to win it (Getty Images)

Rio Ferdinand believes Liverpool are one of the teams to watch in this season’s Champions League after they reached the last eight with a comprehensive 5-0 aggregate win over Porto.

The Reds were leading 5-0 after the first leg in Portugal and held their visitors to a goalless draw on Tuesday night to see them safely through to the quarter-finals.

That result restored a lot of faith in their defensive abilities, which have let them down in the Premier League this season, while their attacking prowess has never really been questioned.

With Liverpool and Real Madrid the only two sides confirmed in the draw for the next round so far, former Manchester United captain Ferdinand admitted the Reds could go all the way and lift the European Cup for a sixth time.

“I think they have got the potential to [go the whole way],” Ferdinand told BT Sport. “You wouldn't want to play Liverpool.

“It doesn't matter who you are in this tournament now that front three, when they are on fire, that intensity, going to Anfield - a difficult place to go - the pace they have got in that team, they are going to be a hard proposition for any team in this tournament.”