MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted that talk of a Premier League title challenge was premature given their current form as he candidly analysed his side's humbling 3-0 away defeat to rivals Manchester City on Sunday.

The trouncing marked the reigning champions' fifth league loss of the season -- one more than all of the last campaign -- and sent Slot's men sliding down the table to eighth place after 11 games, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal and four behind City.