Arne Slot names the current ‘best team in Europe’

Second-half strikes from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo secured the win for Liverpool on another unforgettable European night at Anfield.

This victory broke Liverpool’s eight-match winless streak against Real Madrid and solidified their position at the top of the Champions League group with a flawless record after five games.

Liverpool are also leading the Premier League standings and could extend their advantage over defending champions Manchester City to 11 points in their upcoming clash at Anfield on Sunday.

While there are plenty of reasons to consider Liverpool the strongest team in Europe right now, Slot insists that Real Madrid still holds that title as the reigning Champions League winners.

“To defeat a team like Real Madrid so many things have to come together – the performance of the players, the atmosphere created by the crowd, the preparation, the desire. It was all there,” Slot wrote in his matchday programme notes ahead of the Man City game.

He added: “This is not to say it was perfect, because as a coach you are always striving for a perfection that might not even exist, but all of the ingredients you would want were in place.

“I liked a lot of what I saw. Again, not everything, but a lot. One of the things I liked most was that everyone from players to supporters saw the victory for what it was and that is another step forward on the road to where we want to be. This isn’t to play the win down or to make it less important.

“But as I said afterwards, it was a group-stage win and not a victory in the later stages or the final. Of course, we can enjoy it and we did enjoy it, but we know also that there is still work to be done.

“It is also worth remembering that Real remain the best team in Europe. They won the Champions League last June and this makes them holders.”