Ian Rush warns Premier League quartet of "dark horse" as he makes Champions League claim

Ian Rush predicts an English club will lift the Champions League trophy in May - but warned them not to underestimate their German rivals.

The Premier League has a strong contingent of teams flying the flag in Europe's premier competition this season which is spearheaded by defending champions Chelsea.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United also have strong credentials to progress deep into the knockout rounds, although there are many group-stage fixtures still to be played.

Anfield legend Rush claims the Premier League is by far the most-competitive and highest-quality division in Europe, pointing to recent Champions League finals to illustrate this.

"I think the English Premier League is the best and hardest league in the world to play in," Rush told Mirror Football

"The winner is going to come from there. We know Paris Saint-Germain, they spend a lot of money, you’ve got Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Barcelona, in my opinion, are not the force they used to be.

"When you look at the last three or four years, it’s been English teams in the final."

Liverpool reached back-to-back Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019 where they fell short against Real Madrid and defeated Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

Last season's final was another all-English affair which saw Chelsea beat City 1-0 to be crowned European champions for the second time.

Sandwiched between Liverpool and Chelsea's triumphs is Bayern Munich's victory in the 2019/20 campaign, during which they bested Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

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While Rush is adamant about the strength of the English teams, he insists they must be wary of the likes of Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

The former Wales striker is especially taken by the form of Dortmund ace Erling Haaland, who has scored an astonishing 13 goals in nine games this season.

"Always be wary of the German teams," added Rush. "They know what to do, they know how to win a game. I think it would be a German team for a dark horse.

"He’s (Haaland’s) on fire. What would he go for now if he was up for sale? He’s absolutely on fire."

Rush also refused to rule out 2019/20 runners-up PSG, who strengthened significantly over the summer, most notably with the signing of Lionel Messi.

"I think Paris Saint-Germain will have a good go, getting Messi is a big coup for them," said Rush, who won the European Cup twice. "But whoever’s gonna win it is going to be an English team."