Liverpool has been described as the best team in the world by opposing players, managers and fans alike, and everyone seems to be in agreement over the Reds' supremacy. Everyone, that is, except Arne Slot.

In fairness, that particular song has only been meant literally at Anfield on a handful of occasions over the past three decades or so. There was a legitimate case to be made at the zenith of the Jurgen Klopp era - especially when the Reds won the Club World Cup - but that's about it.

However, via the guidance of Slot (and the brilliance of Mohamed Salah), there is once again a genuine argument that Liverpool is the best in the business. After all, the team is top of the Premier League and Champions League standings, boasting a 100 per cent record in the latter competition.

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There will be those who say that such accolades have to wait until the end of the campaign. Right now, as many will rush to remind you, Slot has not won anything.

But it seems somewhat illogical to depend on trophies to determine the current best team in the world. By that logic, Manchester City is still in with a shout, having won the Premier League last season — but it is quite clearly now a team in transition, with the stars upon whom it has historically relied no longer able to deliver at the absolute highest echelons of the game.

Of course, there's a question of where you draw the line. There has to be some kind of frame of reference, or else any team that has won its most recent match could come into contention.

Depending on how you define it, there could even be mentions for the likes of Newcastle or Nottingham Forest, who have probably looked at least as impressive as Liverpool over the past six or seven matches (the Reds have stuttered against Tottenham and Manchester United, drawing with Forest too). In Serie A, Napoli is flying.

But when it comes to the best team in the world so far this season, it is hard to look beyond Liverpool. Even so, Slot has batted away that title.

"No," Slot responded bluntly, when asked if Liverpool was the best in the world. "I think we have a lot of quality and players work really hard. If Thomas Frank says this then it means something. He's been in the Premier League a long time and doesn't have a lot of resources so if he gives this compliment then it is nice.

"[But] I can come up with five or six teams who are also very good. Every time we win it is by small margins. They understand how hard we have to work for a win. Bayern Munich is very good and Barcelona beat Benfica 5-4."

In fairness, Bayern is four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. But it is down in 12th in the Champions League standings, although it should move into the top eight with a win against Feyenoord this evening. Barcelona is something of a reverse case. It is the only side pushing Liverpool in the Champions League, but it is only third in La Liga, struggling for consistent results. Nor does a wild 5-4 win over Benfica seem like the best evidence of a well-drilled side.

It's understandable that Slot doesn't want to put a label on it just yet. But if these are his top alternatives, it only serves to underline that Liverpool really is probably the best team in the world.

Liverpool.com says: There's no good reason for Slot to engage with the "best in the world" narrative. He needs to keep his players' feet on the ground, and it would be a soundbite that could easily come back to bite him at the first sign of any trouble.

But whatever he says, there is no doubt that there is at least a conversation to be had. Liverpool is picking up results and playing good football, and it's hard to think of a side with a more convinciing claim to the honor.