Fulham manager Marco Silva is aware that Saturday’s trip to Liverpool is arguably our toughest game of the season, but he’s taking optimism from our battling performances at Anfield in both the Premier League and Carabao Cup last season.
“Firstly, the most consistent team in this league so far,” was Silva’s description of Liverpool right now. “Really, really strong in any moment of the game, making life really difficult for any team that they play against.
“Great, in terms of the collective quality of the team, the impact of the manager, and, of course, the individual quality they have. I think everything together is the reason why they are on the top of the league.
“In the Champions League, they won six out of six, and because of that, they deserve all the credit for the way they have been playing.
“It's going to be the next one for us, a really tough game, but we have been responding well for these type of games so far this season.
“Even against them last season, the games at Anfield were really tight games, and the team responded really well, and let's hope we can have the same type of performance, but with a different result for us, if we can.”
Any concerns about Liverpool’s future following the summer departure of Jürgen Klopp have quickly evaporated, with new boss Arne Slot winning 19 of his 22 matches in charge.
Asked if he’s been surprised by Slot’s fast start, and if the Reds are the best team in Europe right now, Silva said: “It's the team in best form, definitely. They’re achieving the best results, and the impact from Arne Slot has been top.
“Okay, the expectations were there, all the eyes were there on him and on the team, how they were going to react after a big personality, a big character left the club, and was so important for the club the last nine years.
“He showed his quality so far, the impact that he’s had in that football club, on the players as well. You can feel that they are all on the same page as a football club.
“When you are doing so well, achieving such good results and playing such good football in the Premier League, Champions League, of course credits for everybody.
“And, on the top, has to be the manager, and Arne Slot has been great for them, definitely.”