The former Manchester United defender believes no other team is playing as well as Liverpool are currently.
Sport
Updated 07:45, 28 Nov 2024
Rio Ferdinand looks on at Anfield to witness Liverpool's win over Real Madrid
Rio Ferdinand was at Anfield to witness Liverpool's win over Real Madrid
(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Rio Ferdinand reckons Liverpool are the favourites for both the Premier League and Champions League on current form. The Reds stayed top of the Champions League table following Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid.
Arne Slot’s men also lead the Premier League by eight points ahead of Sunday's monster clash with Manchester City at Anfield. That could stretch to 11 points with a win should Chelsea and Arsenal fail to win their respective games.
Ferdinand says Liverpool have set the benchmark for everyone else in Europe given their astonishing start to the season. Slot has seen his side lose just once in his opening 19 matches as head coach.
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During that time, the Reds have kept 10 clean sheets and have not conceded at all in their last three home matches. The remarkable beginning to Slot’s tenure has left Ferdinand awestruck.
“Liverpool have put the gauntlet down to all the other teams in Europe,” he told TNT Sports. “They are the in-form team.
“This Liverpool team look starving. They look staving and Slot is sending them out there like Rottweilers on the pitch hunting teams down.
“I said before the game, Arne Slot will have wanted to see what his team could produce against a team of this magnitude. If I was to put money on a team who look most likely to win the Premier League and Champions League this season, I would say it is Liverpool.”
Arne Slot showing his appreciation to the fans at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 27, 2024
Speaking after full-time, Slot paid tribute to predecessor Jurgen Klopp for the squad he left the Dutchman to inherit. He admitted the win over Real was “pleasing”.
Slot told TNT Sports: "You know how special it is to play against a team that has won the Champions League so many times. They were a pain for Liverpool for many years too. It is a big week and it is pleasing to see.
"I didn't have schedule in terms of amount of points I wanted. You want to implement the playing style as soon as possible.
“That is not difficult because it wasn't that different to Jurgen's. It is great to see not only the starters but the players coming on are doing as we expect.
“If before the season I had counted points for this point in the season I wouldn't have done as much as we have now. Every time Real Madrid threatened us, it was from us. I think we can play with more intensity and better with the ball."