The Liverpool boss takes his table-topping side to this season's surprise package Forest in Tuesday's (14.01.25) fixture and believes that their opponents should be considered as a factor in the title race as they sit in third place with more than half of the season gone.

Slot said: "I've always said you can judge the table best halfway through the season.

"That moment is there now, so if Forest is then up there with us, with Arsenal, Chelsea and [Manchester] City and all the others, then they definitely are a team that is in competition with us and with the other teams.

"They deserve to be treated like this if you look at the way they play and if you look at their results."

Liverpool suffered their only league defeat of the campaign so far at home to Forest in September but Slot views the result differently now because of the impressive season the Midlands club have enjoyed.

The Dutch manager said: "For us to lose on that day was, for me, hard to take.

"Now, looking back at it and seeing where they are in the league, it has not been such a shock result as I thought it was back then."

Slot was surprised by Forest's team selection in the corresponding fixture but does not expect any shocks this time.

He said: "I watched it back because I wanted to see what we did back then in terms of tactics and what we could do now.

"Back then it was a surprise for us that Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga were not playing but they are playing so well now it again would be a surprise if they don’t start.

"We are prepared for both but we have to do better than that game, that is clear."