One thing in particular was striking about Manchester City's display as they battled their way to a 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola's tactics were spot on and Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were majestic - but what really stood out was the character that City showed. Like never before, City are seeing defining moments in big games go in their favour and it's no coincidence.
Perhaps the defining moment of Sunday's draw at Anfield came late on as both sides went in search of a winner. Kevin De Bruyne had just netted City's second equaliser of the game but Liverpool were desperate to notch all three points.
When the ball fell to Fabinho with the goal at his mercy, the City fans behind the goal must have thought it was all over. Another defeat at Anfield and, perhaps more annoyingly, nothing to take from a game in which City had played brilliantly and deserved to win.
But the net didn't ripple.
From out of nowhere, Rodri slid in and blocked the Liverpool player's effort as time seemed to stand still. It was a heroic piece of defending, an intervention that many City fans had come to not expect from Rodri. Often criticised for a lack of pace and occasional clumsiness, the Spaniard's goal-saving block epitomised the character and grit that this City team has by the bucketload.
City's two equalisers tell a similar story. We've seen it so many times before, City dominate for 30 minutes but don't score, concede and everything falls apart. In previous seasons that's exactly what would have happened.
Instead, City didn't panic. They fell behind to Sadio Mane's opener, kept playing their game and drew level ten minutes later through a magnificent Foden goal. Mohamed Salah soon stole the show with a world-class solo effort, but then De Bruyne fired back almost immediately.
To come from behind twice having dominated the first half is impressive in itself, but to do so at Anfield - a place where City have won one league game since 2003 - in a raucous atmosphere ready to bubble over, displays elite mental fortitude.
Raheem Sterling came off the bench to the usual boos and whistles from the Liverpool faithful. Pushing aside the jeers aimed in his direction and his recent struggle for form, he put in a good showing that saw his movement pull Liverpool's centre-backs this way and that. Without his run towards goal, De Bruyne likely doesn't find the space to take his shot and City lose.
At times last season, we saw that same kind of character. In the Champions League semi-final second leg win against Paris Saint-Germain, City's back four put their bodies on the line to help the club to its first final in the competition. Ruben Dias and Oleksandr Zinchenko both made heroic blocks, and everyone got so pumped up that joyous fist-bumps and high-fives were exchanged with every tackle.
Dias' arrival at the club coincided with this development of character, and you only have to watch his on-field body language to see what an impact he's had on the team's togetherness and morale. City won two Premier League titles under Guardiola before Dias signed in 2020, but now everybody fights for everybody - ALL of the time.
Particularly this season, Dias has looked like the leader that City have missed since Vincent Kompany left in 2019. He wore the armband again on Sunday in the absence of Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan and was again exemplary in his leadership.
Is this the best side Guardiola has had at City? The class of 2017/18 and 2018/19 might have something to say about that. Regardless, what is clear is that no incarnation of Pep's City has been so close-knit, courageous and determined.
As injury time ticked away at Anfield, City's away following broke out into a rendition of the 'fight 'til the end' chant. Never has it been more appropriate.
Do you think this City team has more character than before? Follow City Is Ours writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
