"We've improved. We are in a better position than we were last year," he said while standing in for Rafael Benitez in yesterday's pre-match press conference.
"The race is closer because we have come from something like fifth last year to first. Okay. Nothing is won by the end of December, but you can certainly lose a lot by not being in the chase.
"We are top. We would like to stay there. We know it is going to be very difficult but every single one of these lads is working hard to make sure we maintain that position.
"If you'd said at the start of the season that we'd be top of the league at Christmas I think we'd have all been pleased with that."