You don't win anything in September but you can lose things and that is why the pressure is on at the top already.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remains adamant that two defeats in the first four games - and that narrow squeak past Bolton - will not affect the Anfield outfit's hopes of finally ending that title drought.
But keeper Pepe Reina's admission that the Merseysiders are badly missing Xabi Alonso's midfield calmness will not ease the fears of the Liverpool fans.
The reality after those losses against Spurs and Aston Villa is that Benitez and Liverpool are under pressure for the next six weeks not to drop any more silly points or risk seeing Chelsea, United and Arsenal - and possibly City or Tottenham - pull too far clear of them for the gap to be made up.
Not what you want when you are already coping with the burden of Merseyside's desperation for that first crown since 1990.
Of course, any City fan who can remember their club's last championship will be in his or her late-40s and tomorrow is the first real test of what Mark Hughes is doing at Eastlands.
I think Hughes has bought brilliantly over the summer, especially the captures of Gareth Barry and the currently injured Roque Santa Cruz, with the really important fact being his decision to sign players with a knowledge and understanding of English football, rather than squandering his desert inheritance on a list of names to please the club's owners.
The City boss certainly sounds ready to take on Arsenal but this will be a proper gauge of the Eastlands outfit, and a Gunners side who need to bounce back after somehow conspiring to lost at Old Trafford two weeks ago.
United will be confident of ending Spurs' terrific start despite the probable return of Heurelho Gomes in goal - Harry Redknapp desperately needs the Brazilian rather than Carlo Cudicini - and good news over Sebastian Bassong.
And while Carlo Ancelotti admitted today he was entirely in the dark about the Gael Kakuta affair until it blew up in his face last week, he should cope with his trip into the unknown at Stoke, whose football is, as he conceded today, something he has never quite experienced in Serie A.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remains adamant that two defeats in the first four games - and that narrow squeak past Bolton - will not affect the Anfield outfit's hopes of finally ending that title drought.
But keeper Pepe Reina's admission that the Merseysiders are badly missing Xabi Alonso's midfield calmness will not ease the fears of the Liverpool fans.
The reality after those losses against Spurs and Aston Villa is that Benitez and Liverpool are under pressure for the next six weeks not to drop any more silly points or risk seeing Chelsea, United and Arsenal - and possibly City or Tottenham - pull too far clear of them for the gap to be made up.
Not what you want when you are already coping with the burden of Merseyside's desperation for that first crown since 1990.
Of course, any City fan who can remember their club's last championship will be in his or her late-40s and tomorrow is the first real test of what Mark Hughes is doing at Eastlands.
I think Hughes has bought brilliantly over the summer, especially the captures of Gareth Barry and the currently injured Roque Santa Cruz, with the really important fact being his decision to sign players with a knowledge and understanding of English football, rather than squandering his desert inheritance on a list of names to please the club's owners.
The City boss certainly sounds ready to take on Arsenal but this will be a proper gauge of the Eastlands outfit, and a Gunners side who need to bounce back after somehow conspiring to lost at Old Trafford two weeks ago.
United will be confident of ending Spurs' terrific start despite the probable return of Heurelho Gomes in goal - Harry Redknapp desperately needs the Brazilian rather than Carlo Cudicini - and good news over Sebastian Bassong.
And while Carlo Ancelotti admitted today he was entirely in the dark about the Gael Kakuta affair until it blew up in his face last week, he should cope with his trip into the unknown at Stoke, whose football is, as he conceded today, something he has never quite experienced in Serie A.
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