Nottingham Forest should be regarded as title contenders ahead of Liverpool’s visit to the City Ground, according to Arne Slot.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team remains the only side to have defeated Liverpool in the Premier League this season, securing a 1-0 victory at Anfield in September.
Liverpool, who currently lead the league table, will face third-placed Forest on Tuesday at 20:00 GMT. Forest trails the leaders by six points.
Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, Forest has demonstrated remarkable form, suffering just four losses in 20 league matches this campaign.
“I’ve always said you can judge the table best halfway through the season,” said Liverpool boss Slot.
“That moment is there now, so if Forest is then up there with us, with Arsenal, Chelsea and [Manchester] City and all the others, then they definitely are a team that is in competition with us and with the other teams.
“They deserve to be treated like this if you look at the way they play and if you look at their results.”
Liverpool are the top scorers in the division with 47 goals, having netted five more than 12th-placed Tottenham.
Forest have found the net 29 times but their campaign has been powered by a resolute defence, with only Liverpool and Arsenal (18) conceding fewer than Forest (19).
“They are a team that hardly concedes goals and there’s also a reason for it: they don’t take a risk in build-up,” added Slot.
“So, mostly when they lose a ball, they have got many players behind the ball. And if they do have to defend, I see 11 players that work really hard to prevent the other team from scoring.”