Liverpool fans are often belittled and ridiculed when they talk of potential title wins, but the feeling is very different this season.
The Reds, after 10 games, are joint top of the Premier League with 23 points and playing arguably the best football in the division. Kopites are quietly-ish clambering aboard the title bus, and it’s quite easy to see why they have such faith.
Indeed, Liverpool look like a team going places. They look like a better team than the 2013/14 edition, which  fell just two points short of Manchester City in the race for the title.
That campaign was a whirlwind that really came from nowhere, with momentum building around midway through the campaign.
Conversely, the current season feels like one in which Liverpool have set their stool out as title challengers from the off, beating Arsenal on the opening day before putting the reigning champions, Leicester, to the sword a matter of weeks later.
Are Liverpool set-up for a title challenge? We think so, and here are FIVE reasons Jurgen Klopp’s side may well be better equipped than Brendan Rodgers' 2013/14 team…
Amazing start
As the numbers show, Liverpool’s start to the season has been pretty darn special. The Reds are in fact better off in terms of points than they were at this stage in 2013/14, with only 2001/02 and 2008/09 having witnessed better openings from the Reds in the Premier League era.
In a division that is quickly becoming more and more evenly matched, it’s likely that another relatively low points score will be needed for the big prize.
Leicester’s 81 would have only just got them into the top four in 2013/14, so if Liverpool can match the 84 they notched during that campaign, they will be well placed to end their long title wait.
Squad depth…
Back in 2013/14, if Brendan Rodgers wanted to introduce a player from the bench to change a game, he could only turn to Iago Aspas or Victor Moses, such was the lack of quality behind a great starting XI.
However, the weekend win over Crystal Palace saw Klopp able to introduce a Netherlands international in the shape of Georginio Wijnaldum from the bench, as well as the talented Divock Origi and defender Ragnar Klavan, who captains his nation, Estonia.
Beyond the trio, Daniel Sturridge, arguably one of the best finishers in the league, Lucas Leiva, Simon Mignolet and Connor Randall completed a seven in reserve that illustrates the German gaffer’s options.
It’s worth noting that James Milner was unavailable through illness, Mamadou Sakho, a decent centre-back, has been frozen out and Danny Ings remains on the peripheries. In short, the depth compared to 2013/14 is staggering.
Klopp effect
Klopp-mania has yet to die down on Merseyside and it’s easy to see why Kopites are so behind the German gaffer. The ex-Dortmund boss’ personality is infectious, while his sheer will to win is evident on the touchline through every game, which simply must transmit to the players.
But, perhaps more interestingly, while Rodgers’ success in 2013/14 was built around the brilliance of Luis Suarez and Sturridge, this Liverpool side seems to be thriving from the work of the manager. Although there are clearly some issues that need addressing, the team feels more like it’s exceeding the sum or its parts as a whole, rather than doing so by the pure talent of a few key individuals.
There have now been 40 games of Klopp, and as the above table shows, Liverpool are just seven points from the top of this hypothetical league season, which is mightily impressive given the mess he inherited and the fact that he rested key players to keep them fresh for the Europa League at the back end of 2015/16.
Goals, goals, goals…
The goals have been flying in for Liverpool this season, who are the joint highest scorers – alongside Manchester City – in the Premier League. To put that into perspective, Spurs have netted only 14 times, while bottom placed Sunderland have managed less than one goal for every three Liverpool have netted. As things stand, the Reds are on course to notch in excess of 90 across 38 games, and considering they have already played some big sides away from home, the 2013/14 return of 101 is not unattainable.
Matip shining…
Granted, the 1.3 goals conceded-per-game Liverpool are averaging at the moment in Premier League action is far from encouraging, but this Reds defensive unit appears better equipped than their 2013/14 counterparts. Indeed, Joel Matip has been excellent since his arrival from Schalke over the summer and with Dejan Lovren looking far more solid - that error at Crystal Palace aside - there appears to be the makings of an effective defence at Anfield.
Alongside the pair, James Milner appears an upgrade on Aly Cissokho and Jon Flanagan from 2013/14, while Nathaniel Clyne is arguably the best right-back in the division.