Forest are Premier League title contenders, says Liverpool's Slot

London: Arne Slot says high flying Nottingham Forest deserve to be treated as Premier League title contenders as he prepares Liverpool for a tricky...

London: Arne Slot says high-flying Nottingham Forest "deserve" to be treated as Premier League title contenders as he prepares Liverpool for a tricky trip to the City Ground on Tuesday.

Third-placed Forest, responsible for Liverpool's only league defeat of the season, can move just three points behind the title favourites if they win a seventh straight league game in midweek.

Forest finished just outside the relegation places last season and their surge towards the top of the table is a big surprise.

But Slot, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, said Nuno Espirito Santo's team must be considered as serious rivals.

"I've always said that you can judge the table best halfway through the season, and that moment is there now, so if Forest is up there with us, with Arsenal, Chelsea, (Manchester) City and all the others, then they definitely are a team that's in competition with us and with the other teams," said the Dutchman.