Lille forward Jonathan David said Liverpool may be the best side in the world after Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Anfield.

The French side headed into the game on the back of a 21-match unbeaten run and could secure automatic passage to the Champions League knockout stages. But defeat on Merseyside dented those chances, despite facing a heavily rotated Liverpool in the penultimate league match.

In truth, the Reds never got out of second gear and coasted to victory, even if Jonathan David’s second-half equalizer did provide a slight shock on the night. Harvey Elliott’s goal soon after wrapped up another three points in Europe as Liverpool guaranteed its spot in the Champions League last 16, and David was keenly aware of the quality he had just faced.

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“We came against the first of the Champions League group so we knew it was going to be a complicated game even more so when we went to 10 men,” the Canadian forward told Amazon Prime afterwards. “It's frustrating, we wanted to hold on as long as we could but it's very difficult. Today wasn't our day.”

Asked for his verdict on Liverpool, David replied: “Very good team. I think they might be the best team in the world at the moment.” Those comments come just days after similar remarks from Brentford boss Thomas Frank, although Slot knocked back the praise in his post-match interview.

“No. 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. 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.”

A point next week against PSV Eindhoven will secure Liverpool’s status as Champions League league-phase winner, which will make those claims more difficult to refute for Slot, who is likely to rotate his squad once again for the trip back to his homeland.

In the meantime, Liverpool faces Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Saturday where it could strengthen its position at the top of another table. The Reds currently hold a six-point advantage on Arsenal and Nottingham Forest and have played a game fewer.