Lucas Leiva has commented that it is still too early to tout Liverpool for the Premier League title this season.
The Reds go into the festive fixtures at the summit of England's top flight on goal difference ahead of Arsenal.
Nevertheless, with half of the campaign remaining and Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton all within close proximity of the top two, the Brazilian insists that it is premature to discuss his team's title credentials.
"As the club has not played in the Champions League for the last three years, certainly our first goal is to return to this competition," he told Perform.
"As for the title, I think we still have many games left and we still can not talk about it. It has been almost half [the season], but it is still too early.
"It is also too early to say who is the favourite to win, just as it is too early to say that the team who is in relegation zone is out as well."
The Merseyside outfit, who have won the top tier division on 18 occasions, have not won the title since 1990 under then-manager Kenny Dalglish.
Brendan Rodgers's men travel to Eastlands for a clash with Manchester City this evening