LONDON (Reuters) - There are still more than six months left in the Premier League with 26 rounds remaining and there is no doubt more volatility but Liverpool's 3-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday gave a sense of a change in the fate of the English champions.
It is not a theoretical calculation despite the fact that a nine-point gap with defending champions City and eight points with Leicester and Chelsea is significant, especially considering Jurgen Klopp's side have lost one league game in the last 18 months.
But talk of how Liverpool's victory at Anfield gives a feeling that fans waiting for their first league title in nearly 30 years may finally end.
Man City was not bad in any way, but played an interesting game, but Liverpool were the best in almost every aspect.
Club was the most dangerous offensive with the success of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mani in the scoring, was stronger defensive, and faster in the middle of the stadium, in addition to the continued support of the two backs.
The Reds won the Champions League after beating teams such as Barcelona and physically superior to them, and used the speeds of the backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to tear the defense of competitors.
City, on the other hand, won the last two Premier League titles thanks to their technical prowess, dominance of the ball and their success in doing so with consistency.
But this season Liverpool have managed to achieve this stability, winning 11 times in 12 games and not yet lost, and entered the game with one question regarding the possibility of dealing with the challenge of facing the ideas of Pep Guardiola.
The only conclusion, 90 minutes after the fast-paced rhythm, is that Liverpool have no obvious weaknesses, and it is hard to think that any team in the world can enter the tough atmosphere of Anfield and have confidence to emerge victorious.
The Citizens, meanwhile, have suffered from weaknesses due to injuries and mistakes in the transfer market by not signing a replacement for captain Vincent Kompany after his departure at the end of last season, which the team paid for.
Gaps of the visiting team
Man City, who have huge financial strength, missed the season with only three central defenders - John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Emerick Laporte.
With Laport injured and absent since last August and a low level of Ottamendi, City had to play in Anfield with midfielder Fernandinho as a central defender next to Stones.
Liverpool managed to make up for the absence of Joel Matip, the other central defender next to Virgil van Dyke, with the participation of experienced Croatian Diane Lovren with England defender Joe Gomez on the bench.
There was no clear mistake from City's defense, but there were many doubts about the consistency of the back line during the game, with the certainty that Liverpool would punish City for any defensive gag.
Last season, City had a disciplined performance in a goalless draw at Anfield, but Guardiola said the match was similar to the quarter-finals of the 2018 Champions League when City collapsed after a late two-goal delay in the first 20 minutes.
"If you give the opponent any chance, he will take advantage of him and score," he said. "That is what happened. It could play better than Liverpool and be late.
"We are still in November, and we still have matches, we are not in a perfect position. We do not want to lose the games and we have to improve. We were in that position last season. We will never give up."
Liverpool know that this game has not yet determined anything, but Klopp has been unable to conceal his desire to end the long fast from winning the title.
"Nine points cannot be imagined, but this is not important," he said. "We are the leaders at the beginning of November, but the most important is in May."