Arne Slot insisted he refused to get excited despite Liverpool recording seven of seven wins in Europe and securing a top two place in the competitive stages of the Champions League.
His side beat Lille 2-1 to confirm their place in the last 16 of the competition, where they will be seeded and face one of the eight sides that make it to February's play-offs.
'We are happy to be in the top eight. That's the only thing that means anything to me because this ranking doesn't,” the Liverpool boss said. 'If you are number one in tennis, it is better to play number 24 than number 12, but that is a ranking based on the years.
'Now we are in a format where some teams have a lucky draw and others an unlucky draw. It can be an advantage, it can be a disadvantage. For me, the most important thing is that we were able to skip a round,” said Slot.
And the Dutchman praised 'special' Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian scored his 50th European goal for Liverpool, becoming the first player to reach that milestone for the club.
“Special, that is the word that describes Mo's performance at this club, he has been excellent for years,” said Slot. 'He scored a great goal. When Mo plays one-on-one, there is a good chance he will score.
“This goal (today) tells you so much about why we are top of the league, with the work rate of the players who won the ball back before Curtis (Jones) transferred to Mo.”
Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott, who scored the winner for Liverpool, insisted he is determined to stay at the club despite reports linking him with a move away from Anfield.
Asked about his “all talk” party, Elliott told Amazon Prime: “It's pretty clear to be honest: I'm not leaving. This is my team and my club. I'm a huge fan and we're in a great position so far this season.
“I haven't actually seen the chat, but my friends have messaged and called me about a few things. It's always going to happen in January, especially after being out for a long time and not playing as much as I'd like, but that's football.
“I've had conversations with the gaffer, but at the same time I have to understand the situation. The team is flying – we are first in the Premier League and Champions League. If I went in and said I should start, that would actually be stupid of me. You know what the answer will be.
“I have to stay patient and when I get opportunities, no matter how long they last, I just have to enjoy the moment, especially after being injured for three months at the start of the season. “I just want to enjoy my football and if the opportunity arises, I have to show the coach that if I am needed, I am ready.”
Liverpool's next match is in Ipswich at Anfield on Saturday, before they travel to the Netherlands knowing that a point against PSV next Wednesday will confirm them as table toppers in the competitive phase of the new Champions League format.
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