Alexis Mac Allister is adamant Liverpool will "not get carried away" by their strong start to the Premier League as they prepare to enter the second half of the campaign. The Reds resume after a rare midweek without action with a blockbusting clash at home to bitter North West rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

Arne Slot's side stand six points clear of Arsenal at the Premier League summit with a game in hand on their nearest challengers having ended 2024 with a rampant 5-0 triumph at West Ham United last weekend.

The Liverpool squad reconvened at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday having been given three days off following the win against the Londoners, a 23rd victory in 27 games in all competitions this season.

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But Mac Allister insists there has been no urge for Liverpool to dwell on their progress as they look to further deepen the gloom presently engulfing United, who have lost their last three Premier League games under new boss Ruben Amorim and have slumped to 14th in the table.

"We've been in a really good moment and the feeling in the squad has been super-positive," said the Argentina international, who made his 50th Premier League appearance for Liverpool at West Ham.

"But as we always say, at a club like this there's no time to rest or get carried away with what's happened - you just have to try to win and think about the next game.

"We know that players who come into the side at the start or as substitutes are really important and if you want to win trophies, you need them. Of course, you don't want to be on the bench, but we know what every guy here, when he comes in, does his best for the team."

Mac Allister has been employed in a slightly different role this season by new boss Arne Slot as part of a double pivot in defensive midfield, and has featured in all bar two games for which he was suspended.

Of the impact made by Slot since arriving in the summer to replace Jurgen Klopp, the 26-year-old added: "It's been a good feeling from day one. From the very start we saw a little bit of the way he wanted us to play and as a group I think we really embraced it. We're all comfortable with the way he wants us to play, with the tactical ideas that he's brought with him. I think you can tell that we've very happy.

"It's not easy for a new coach to come in, especially after a legend like Jurgen Klopp who was here for so many years and won so many things. I'm happy for Arne and for the whole group because the truth is that we work very hard and we're doing so in a great way. So hopefully we can crown it by winning him a trophy or two."

Mac Allister has a goal and two assists in his last three games, and was also heavily involved in the build-up to two goals at West Ham. And he said: "I like to score goals, I like to assist, I want to put even more into that, into improving my numbers, and I think I can do that. So I'm happy for what I'm achieving but at the same time I always want a little bit more."