Arne Slot has played down Brentford manager Thomas Frank's comments that his Liverpool team are currently the best in the world.
Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the Premier League – with a game in hand on second-placed Arsenal – after their 2-0 win at Brentford on Saturday.
The Merseyside club also lead the Uefa Champions League table by three points having won all six of their games so far, with Lille up next on Tuesday at Anfield.
After Darwin Nunez's late double sealed all three points at the GTech Community Stadium, Frank did not hold back in his praise for Liverpool.
“We just played [Manchester] City and Arsenal and now Liverpool, in a short amount of time. For me, they’re a level above the two teams.
“They’re so good all over the pitch … it’s the best team in the Premier League and the world.”
While Slot, who is enjoying a magnificent season after replacing Jurgen Klopp as manager last summer, is flattered by the praise, he insisted his team have achieved nothing yet.
“His opinion means something to me because he has shown at Brentford how well he has done for so many years without spending crazy amounts of money,” said the Dutchman in Monday's press conference.
“Every time he is able to perform with his teams and makes it so hard for top six teams to play against.
“But I think it's far too early to say these things. The Champions League format is different. We have to face a lot of teams.
“Can we judge the league table in the Champions League? Very difficult to judge. But it's always nice to get compliments from a manger who has proved himself in the Premier League.”
After taking on the Ligue 1 side this week, Liverpool's final group-stage game sees Slot return to his home country as they take on PSV Eindhoven next Wednesday.
The Reds are all but through to the knockout stage, needing just a draw against Lille to guarantee a top-eight spot and direct entry to the last 16.
-
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and Conor Bradley celebrates their Champions League win over Real Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. AFP -
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saves a penalty from Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe. AP -
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe look after the defeat at Anfield. Reuters -
Liverpool registered their first win over Real Madrid in 15 years. EPA -
Cody Gakpo, centre, celebrates with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate after scoring against Real Madrid. EPA -
Cody Gakpo scores the second goal for Liverpool. EPA -
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates with Luis Diaz after scoring his sides first goal. AP
Despite having one foot in the next round, Slot made clear securing three points once again is the main priority.
“We want to keep it going to the end, and win every single game,” the former Feyenoord coach added.
“We just want to add top eight. We know we need a point for that. But this team has never gone out playing for a point.
“Every single game we have played, be it at Old Trafford or Arsenal, we have not changed our style. That's what we want to do tomorrow again. We always play for the win.
“With this new set-up, you think ending number one is the best position to end up but because it's such a strange league table, because every week, even if you face team lower down the table, they are the hardest team to face and if you finish number one you could face them.
“I'm not thinking at the league table in a way that if you finish number one you get the easiest team because being on top doesn't tell you you're the best team. It's impossible to say because of the strange format we have.”
Bruno Genesio's side are currently in eighth place in the Champions League having won four, drawn one and lost one of their matches – the last of which saw them beat Sturm Graz 3-2 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
And Slot was full of praise for what Genesio has achieved at Lille – and at his previous club Rennes.
“I am not surprised but impressed,” said Slot. “I was impressed by their manager Bruno Genesio at Rennes, at the way his team played.
“I saw they beat Atletico, surprise, and Real, surprise, but now I've seen many games of them and I'm not surprised. They've deserved every single point.
“It's not because they have faced easy competition. They've faced Sporting when Ruben Amorim was still there. They have faced Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and now they're facing us and then my former club Feyenoord.
“So they haven't been lucky with the fixtures and that's the reason I'm so impressed.”
Slot revealed that while defender Joe Gomez and forward Diogo Jota will not play against Lille, they should be back from their respective injuries “in weeks, not months”.
