Liverpool legend Dirk Kuyt believes they have been the best team in the Premier League so far this season.
He has also hailed Jurgen Klopp for his squad rebuild, but hints that Pep Guardiola is ahead of him in the list of the world’s top managers.
Liverpool face Manchester City on Saturday afternoon in the biggest Premier League fixture of the weekend, live on talkSPORT.
Hosts City sit top of the table after 12 games but just one point ahead of the visiting Reds, who are level with Arsenal.
Such a fixture has proven to be one of the best derbies in modern football, with both sides competing for the title on various occasions.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT ahead of the clash, Kuyt believes Liverpool are this season’s best side heading into the clash: “Well in the beginning of the season, City was playing, really, really well and people expect them to do the same thing as last season.
“Arsenal, in my opinion, last season did a great job but they couldn’t go all the way and you expect them to perform a little bit better than they have done so far, but because they did so well last season you expect, again, a little bit more.
“The top four or five is really tight and anything can happen, in my opinion, Liverpool did the best job so far because everyone knows at the beginning of the season, a lot of people were doubting the squad.
“A lot of people were doubting which players were coming in and they’re still getting the results and already played very tough games like Newcastle away, they’ve had Spurs, they’ve had Chelsea away, tomorrow City away. If they can manage to get a good result tomorrow, they are in the perfect shape for the rest of the season.”
Liverpool boss Klopp has overseen a number of key departures in recent months including former captain Jordan Henderson and the experienced James Milner.
He has, however, been able to welcome shrewd signings such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, with their rebuild one that Kuyt admires.
“I think there has been a big change from last season, it’s not easy to replace very important players like Henderson but also Milner who was in the squad for a very long time, also [Sadio] Mane didn’t leave last season but the season before.
“Players have left the team and then you have to bring in new players and I think the manager has done an unbelievable job to get his squad together, but also let them perform already so well in the beginning of the season.
“So as a Liverpool supporter, it’s great to see they’re in a very good shape, they only got beat one time and I think they were very unlucky in that game.
“Ok three draws, against Luton, maybe we didn’t expect that one but beside of that, they are in the right place on the table and hopefully they’ll get a win tomorrow, it’ll be a tough one but it’s not impossible.”
Amid Liverpool and City’s clashes, Klopp and Guardiola have enjoyed their fair share of the limelight on the touchline in recent seasons.
Both have been huge successes at their respective clubs, but it’s Pep who Kuyt hints is the best out of the two.
“Well for me, they are two of the best, and if we look into the performances of Guardiola, I think he has done not only an unbelievable job in the Premier League but also everywhere basically in Europe.
“Since he won the Champions League last season he has done something unbelievable, not only for English football but also for City. I think for me he is one of the top managers in the world. Close behind him I think it’s Jurgen, but what Jurgen has done for Liverpool is also unbelievable.
“Winning the league title for the first time since a very long time, winning the Champions League is something that probably makes him one of the best Liverpool managers ever.”
Saturday’s match will have a huge impact on this season’s title race, and Kuyt backs his former club to win all three points at the Etihad Stadium.
“I see Liverpool winning but both teams to score. Probably City come first up and then Liverpool win it with Darwin Nunez making the winning goal. 2-1 to Liverpool.”
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