Manchester City new boy Rodri has declared Liverpool as "the best team in England and in Europe" as he praised the work done by Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds stand eight points clear of defending champions City at the top of the Premier League table after eight games having maintained a 100% start to the top flight season by beating Leicester City 2-1 at Anfield last Saturday.
It was Liverpool's 17th successive Premier League win, moving them within one of matching the all-time record of City.
And Rodri, a £62.8million summer arrival from Atletico Madrid, believes the European champions have been transformed in recent seasons under Klopp and are the team to beat.
Asked in an interview with ESPN FC whether Manchester United or Liverpool were now City's main rivals, he said: "I don't know, I had never been in the city before, I don't know how people in the city feel.
"But the team to beat is Liverpool now and that has been seen the last two seasons. They are the champions of Europe so everyone wants to beat them, not just us.
"They're a great team, they have improved a lot of things, they're a very good team, and they're the best team in England and in Europe."
Liverpool will aim to equal City's record when they travel to bitter North West rivals Manchester United on Sunday week.
