Six games into the new Premier League season, Liverpool and Manchester City's gap at the top of the table couldn't feel much bigger.
Jurgen Klopp's side sits top, five points clear of their nearest rivals, after a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
City though are going nowhere.
After their shock defeat to Norwich last weekend, Pep Guardiola's men put any doubts of their title intentions to bed.
The champions, who are going for three consecutive leagues, were in emphatic form at the Etihad; putting eight goals past Watford.
A first-ever career hat-trick from Bernardo Silva as well as goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin De Bruyne stopped any critics firmly in their tracks.
Liverpool's retention of their 100% start on Sunday afternoon meanwhile may turn out to be a vital three points when this race inevitably goes down to the wire.
As Reds fans look back, the old cliche that you need a bit of luck on your side to win a league may come up with this fixture in particular.
Chelsea were extremely unlucky not to equalise in the last 20 minutes.
Liverpool were nowhere near their best and rode their luck at times, having to cling on after N'Golo Kanté's wonder strike in the 70th minute.
They did just that though - ticking off their first top-six win of the season via first-half goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino.
V-A-R also gifted last year's runners up a stroke of luck as a César Azpilicueta goal between Liverpool's two was ruled out for offside.
New manager Frank Lampard reacted to the call at full-time.
"It definitely changes the atmosphere, in the crowd, on the pitch - we're slightly deflated and they get a boost from it.
"I think we deserved to be level at the time and then you're going ok can we go and win this game.
"Little moments like that, of course, they change the face of it."
Klopp meanwhile acknowledged the importance of the win, which he would have liked to be that bit more comfortable.
"An exciting game - that's how the Premier League is.
"If you don't finish the game then it's open until the end but I really think we deserved all three points so all good."
As onlookers get carried away, Liverpool defender Andy Robertson was quick to play down talk of this early title race.
"We're not looking at the table just yet, there's still a long, long way to go.
"Don't get me wrong it's lovely to be five points clear but there's going to be twists and turns this season like there was last season.
"We've got off to a good start but it's just about keeping that going and keeping the momentum and if we keep winning our games that's all that matters."
The weekend's other results though really spelled out the size of the gap between these two and their top-six rivals.
On Saturday Tottenham let another lead slip.
This time losing out 2-1 to Leicester City at the King Power - leaving them still in search of their first away win of this campaign.
Arsenal then needed a moment of late magic from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to beat Aston Villa at the Emirates.
The Gunners twice had to come from behind to eventually come away with three points.
And then things are going from bad to worse for Manchester United.
One of the most iconic clubs in the world, who spent over £250 million this summer, lost 2-0 to West Ham at the London Stadium.
The Irons outclassed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side who have not won a league game away from home now since February.
It's a worrying time for United fans with defeats like this no longer coming as a shock.
In a week where Victor Lindelof and David de Gea signed new contracts, United looked at sixes and sevens at times with no bite and hunger to win this tie.
Solskjaer couldn't but acknowledge this after the game.
"There's key moments in games that can tip these games in our favour compared to theirs.
"You make a bad decision on a pass, but the attitude and desire is there, that's not the problem, it's the quality in our decision making."
Looking on, one can't help but feel Liverpool and Manchester City would see all of these fixtures through with a sense of ease at the moment.
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