Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has played down the significance of his side sitting top of the Premier League table.
The Reds went into the final international break of the year as league leaders following their 6-1 win over Watford at Anfield - the club's 12th game in a row without defeat.
Liverpool's form over the opening months of the season has seen many tip them for a genuine title challenge this term, but Klopp insists that there is still a long way to go in the campaign.
"I am pretty sure early in the season the other teams knew already we were not the worst team in the Premier League. I shouldn't sound too confident but I have no idea what [opponents] think and I don't care," he told reporters.
"We try to do our job and we have done it until now and we have to do it in the next few weeks, which will be very intensive. We don't have to think about it, what they do, we have to think about what we do.
"All what we do in December, January, February is preparing and creating a basis for the rest of the season. Nothing is decided. Teams maybe want to be champion but end up sixth because they played a good season but so many other teams played a very good season."
Liverpool will look to continue a four-match winning streak when they take on Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday.