Manchester City midfielder Rodri has claimed his new side must overcome "the best team in both England and Europe" in Liverpool in order to secure their third consecutive Premier League title.
The two clubs were unrivalled in the league last year but it was City who emerged victorious on the final day of the season, pipping the Merseysiders to the title by just one point.
Liverpool went on to win the Champions League while City became the first team in England to complete the domestic treble by securing the FA Cup.
Jurgen Klopp's men have made a perfect start to the new campaign, winning all eight of their opening fixtures, while Pep Guardiola 's men have lost twice and drawn once to open up an eight point deficit in the standings.
The two sides meet the first time on November 10 and Rodri was questioned whether Klopp's men were now City's biggest rival, not Manchester United.
"I don't know, I had never been in the city before, I don't know how people in the city feel," he told ESPN .
"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."
Despite City's success in recent seasons prior to his arrival, Rodri thinks Liverpool aren't only the best team in England, but in the whole of Europe.
He added: "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."
