Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits the game against Chelsea this weekend will show whether they will be title challengers this season.
Manchester United and Chelsea were left to battle it out for the Premier League last season after Arsenal dropped away, but Liverpool were barely in the reckoning.
Now after another summer of rebuilding, Benitez is hopeful he has finally fine-tuned his squad ready for a title assault and the early evidence is good with Liverpool currently second - behind early leaders Chelsea only on goal difference.
Liverpool's biggest issue has been their failure to beat their biggest rivals and Benitez admits he needs to get results against United, Arsenal and Chelsea this season if they want to be involved in the title run-in.
"A Premier League season is very long and we now have a tough game coming up at Chelsea, which will show where we are headed," said the Spanish tactician.
"To win the title you have to do well against your direct rivals - we failed to do that last year."
Despite their impressive start to the new season, Liverpool have been forced to come from behind to seal last-gasp victories on three different occasions already and Benitez admits that cannot continue.
"It goes without saying that it will be difficult against Chelsea if they take the lead," he said.
"But we will take the right conclusions from the games against Manchester City and Wigan.
"It would be nice for our fans if we could lead by two or three goals at the break and they could enjoy the match.
"If it continues like this I will have to seek a neurologist," he quipped. "I don't like these late comebacks.
"Yet we demonstrated the will to win. The will makes us strong!"
With his leading striker Fernando Torres sidelined, Dutchman Dirk Kuyt has taken his chance to replace the Spaniard with both hands after scoring three goals in their last two games.
And Benitez is delighted with how the former Feyenoord man is developing.
"Dirk played superbly against Man City and Wigan," he added.
"It is often said that he scored too little in the Premier League - but he scored twice in the game against Wigan, so I cannot share this criticism.
"Dirk has proved he can play in every position on offence and that he is very determined.
"The loss of defender Martin Skrtel has been the worst thing that has happened this season.
"Although with Dan Agger and Sami Hyypia fit again, we are in a much better position than we were at the same time last season."
Manchester United and Chelsea were left to battle it out for the Premier League last season after Arsenal dropped away, but Liverpool were barely in the reckoning.
Now after another summer of rebuilding, Benitez is hopeful he has finally fine-tuned his squad ready for a title assault and the early evidence is good with Liverpool currently second - behind early leaders Chelsea only on goal difference.
Liverpool's biggest issue has been their failure to beat their biggest rivals and Benitez admits he needs to get results against United, Arsenal and Chelsea this season if they want to be involved in the title run-in.
"A Premier League season is very long and we now have a tough game coming up at Chelsea, which will show where we are headed," said the Spanish tactician.
"To win the title you have to do well against your direct rivals - we failed to do that last year."
Despite their impressive start to the new season, Liverpool have been forced to come from behind to seal last-gasp victories on three different occasions already and Benitez admits that cannot continue.
"It goes without saying that it will be difficult against Chelsea if they take the lead," he said.
"But we will take the right conclusions from the games against Manchester City and Wigan.
"It would be nice for our fans if we could lead by two or three goals at the break and they could enjoy the match.
"If it continues like this I will have to seek a neurologist," he quipped. "I don't like these late comebacks.
"Yet we demonstrated the will to win. The will makes us strong!"
With his leading striker Fernando Torres sidelined, Dutchman Dirk Kuyt has taken his chance to replace the Spaniard with both hands after scoring three goals in their last two games.
And Benitez is delighted with how the former Feyenoord man is developing.
"Dirk played superbly against Man City and Wigan," he added.
"It is often said that he scored too little in the Premier League - but he scored twice in the game against Wigan, so I cannot share this criticism.
"Dirk has proved he can play in every position on offence and that he is very determined.
"The loss of defender Martin Skrtel has been the worst thing that has happened this season.
"Although with Dan Agger and Sami Hyypia fit again, we are in a much better position than we were at the same time last season."
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