Manchester City have technically been top of the Premier League table for two months.
A day after Pep Guardiola's side defeated Bournemouth at the beginning of March, Liverpool were held to a goalless draw in the Merseyside derby and the turnaround from the end of December was complete .
Both title contenders have won every game since, making for a lack of drama in the race, and yet as a result of the schedule the lead has changed hands 12 times in the last six weeks.
For weeks their extra commitments in other competitions meant that it felt like City were playing catch-up; after moving four points clear with victory over Watford on March 9, the Blues didn't play a league game for three weeks to allow Liverpool to steal back ahead.
Even when they made up their game in hand with the Manchester derby last week, Liverpool had a game two days later to go back to the top. And having been on the back foot for so long because of their heavier schedule, their failure to make the Champions League semi-finals (although nobody tell BT) has only prolonged it.
Their home game with Leicester was supposed to be this Saturday lunchtime but has been pushed back to Monday night while Liverpool's trip to Newcastle will now be on Saturday to accommodate their European tie with Barcelona.
You have to go back to that Watford game in March for the last time Guardiola's side kicked off a game in first place, and that is the only time in 2019 they have done. They will hope there is a second occasion when they head to Brighton on the final day.
Three-time Premier League champion Jose Mourinho spoke recently of the psychological impact of being behind in the table, saying that whoever was second had to think about two matches every weekend.
Guardiola, though, has consistently batted away any suggestion that it is harder to keep starting from behind. And if the Blues are second again when they kick off against Leicester, at least it is a position they are used to.
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