Arne Slot says 'best years are still to come' for Liverpool squad as coach insists Premier League leaders are 'not flying'

Slot's Reds have been in exceptional form thus far this season and sit atop the Premier League table, four points clear of second-placed Chelsea and with a game in hand. Their only loss in the league this term came in September, against Nottingham Forest, but Slot maintains that he is expecting more from his squad as the months tick by.

Slot claims the Reds are "doing well" but has rejected claims they are "flying", as he believes there is another gear they can find, as he talked up the prospects of the club's young players. The Dutchman is also yet to see the best from summer signing Federico Chiesa, who is injured, but Slot has revealed that he is very close to a return.

Slot told reporters: "We're not flying but we are doing well. I think there is more to come from the players into the team than we have showed until now. But I think that is something every manager feels. The longer you work with a team the more the better you start to play and the more they are used to playing together.

“But that is not only for us that is probably the same for a couple of other teams as well that there is more to come from them as well. We truly believe that we can... OK there are a few that maybe it is not so easy to get more out of them individually - but as a team we can do better and there is is definitely more to come from a few individuals, also because of their age.

“And that is the positive thing about the squad I inherited, most of them are still quite young and the best years normally are still to come."

Liverpool play Fulham at Anfield on Saturday as they bid to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.