Chris Wood has rejected Arne Slot’s claim that Nottingham Forest is a major title challenger for Liverpool.

The striker scored the opening goal of Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at the City Ground between Forest and Liverpool, with his eighth-minute strike canceled out by Diogo Jota’s second-half header. It’s a result that saw Forest move up to second in the table and is now just a point behind the leaders in the table, although Liverpool has played one game fewer.

Slot said before and after the game that he views Nuno Espirito Santo’s side as serious opponents in the race for top spot. “I don’t think they [Forest] are up there because of luck,” he opined.

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“They have been very hard and difficult to play against for every team. They’ve already had a few difficult away games, [Manchester] United away, [Manchester] City away, playing us twice.

“It shows you they are a team that can compete at the top end of the league. I think they have had most of their players until now available for the whole season, I almost always see the same line-up and that is a quality for their coaching staff. If they can keep the same players on the pitch, I see no reason for them to drop a lot of points because they are a difficult team to play against.”

But it’s not a feeling that has yet permeated the Forest dressing room. “No, there’s no talk like that [a title challenge],” Wood told the Guardian after the 1-1 draw. “We’re just talking about keeping progressing, getting better every week, every month, and seeing where it takes us.”

Wood’s goal against Liverpool was his 13th in the Premier League this season, a tally only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer have bettered. He is also closing in on a century of goals in the English top flight, with Wood now on 82.

As for the title race, it could all change again on Wednesday night with Arsenal in action. The Gunners host Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby and a win would move it to within four points of Liverpool, albeit the Reds will have a game in hand.