• Jürgen Klopp’s team sit top of the table • Koeman words come after Romelu Lukaku advised to leave club

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The Everton manager, Ronald Koeman, has backed Liverpool’s title credentials and says they deserve to be top of the Premier League.

Jürgen Klopp’s side top the table – for the first time since May 2014 – and their attacking style has led to talk of contending for a first championship since 1990.

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Their football has earned them a number of admirers, among them near-neighbour Koeman, whose side face their rivals in the first Merseyside derby of the campaign at Goodison Park in a month’s time.

“It’s still too early to say who will be the favourites, but I have been impressed by Liverpool so far,” the Dutchman told ESPN. “Maybe that is not what you might expect the Everton manager to say but they have been playing some very good football and deserve to be at the top. They have goals in their team and this is what all successful sides need.

“Of course they can be champions this season, they have a good chance, but they are not the only contenders.”

It is the second time in a week Koeman’s comments will have irked Everton fans after he suggested striker Romelu Lukaku would need to leave the club to fulfil his potential.