Graeme Souness does not feel Philippe Coutinho's injury will derail Liverpool's title hopes - but he fears 'scary' Chelsea could.
Coutinho, one of Liverpool's stand-out players this season, faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury against Sunderland.
The Brazilian playmaker has scored five Premier League goals and created six more for the Reds this season.
But former Anfield skipper Souness said: "Of course it's a blow. But I was captain there and regarded as one of the better players and I was out for 10 games and they won every single one of them!"
Souness has been hugely impressed with his old club's start to the season. They currently lie second, a point behind leaders Chelsea.
"At the start of the season I would have signed up for finishing in the top four, but now I'm looking for a wee bit more," added the Sky Sports pundit.
"But we're not even in December. One year at Liverpool we lost to Manchester City on Boxing Day and were 12th in the league, everyone was writing us off and we still won it.
"So to start picking a winner now is really hard. But of the candidates, Chelsea look scary to me.
"They don't have to have all of the ball to win games. Liverpool do, Manchester City do, Arsenal do. Chelsea play in a pragmatic way, they are hard to beat.
"They all seem to know what they are doing now and Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are a real threat. But it could change dramatically in the next month."
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp fired up the Anfield crowd to inspire Liverpool to victory over an ultra-defensive Sunderland last weekend, and Souness is a big fan of the German.
"I think he's the perfect fit for that club," he said.
"He's a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and he's at a very emotional football club.
"I think it's working beautifully right now."
