Arne Slot insists Liverpool are not ahead of schedule despite winning all five games this season.
The Premier League champions face Everton in the 247th Merseyside derby on Saturday, with several summer signings set for their first taste of the rivalry.
Liverpool have beaten Bournemouth, Newcastle, Arsenal and Burnley in the league, and edged Atletico Madrid 3-2 in the Champions League.
Slot, who oversaw a squad overhaul with nine arrivals and 10 departures, said: “Nah, that depends on when you ask me.
“When you ask me, maybe in May, I would expect us to be [up there], what happened to Diogo [Jota] wasn’t known then, I was expecting Alexis McAllister to start in pre-season from day one, but things got worse.
“I think the main thing in the beginning of the season is picking up points, and I think we did this better than, in general, people speak about, if I have to listen to you.
“Because I think people don’t take into account how difficult it is to win at Newcastle away, after all that happened. Arsenal at home, I think they haven’t conceded a goal, only against us. Burnley conceded only 14 goals last season, and I could go on and on.
“So if you take all that into account, everything that happened, the change we had to make, players are not all ready to play 90 minutes, which is for many clubs the situation, then we are further definitely in points than I expected us to be.”
Read more: Virgil van Dijk issues Liverpool rallying cry ahead of Merseyside derby
Hugo Ekitike adapting to Premier League demands after Liverpool move
Arne Slot speaks out on Liverpool’s failed move for Marc Guehi
