Gary Megson has backed Liverpool to continue their flying start to the season and win a first domestic title since 1990. The Bolton Wanderers manager welcomes Rafael Benitez's men to the Reebok Stadium tomorrow lunchtime as joint leaders of the Barclays Premier League and he is confident they have quality to last the distance.

"Liverpool are genuine contenders every year but what has happened this year is that they've got off to a good start," he said. "They seem settled and they are flying. They've had top-class players for the last 40 to 50 years and they've got great expectations.

"They're expected to be in the Champions League and picking up Premier League titles and they are well capable of building on their great start this year.

"It seems incredible that it's been 18 years since they won the league. Yes, they've won plenty of cups during that time but, ultimately, you are judged on Premier League titles."

Megson is an admirer of the desire and discipline Benitez has instilled into his side.

"They've got some world-class players, backed up by some real class players, but the thing that they've all got is a really high work ethic," he said. "They are organised, they're a problem from set-pieces and all those things that the smaller clubs are supposed to be good at, Liverpool do it as well as everyone else and, in most cases, better.

"Allied to the talent they've got, it's a real difficult task to beat them, as it's proved for everyone else."