It may still be a game away but the build-up to Liverpool's Premier League clash against Manchester United is already brewing.
Jurgen Klopp and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's battling words have grabbed headlines and the two sides are currently level at the top of the standings, although United have a game in hand.
Before the titanic clash at Anfield, Liverpool need to navigate past an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa, while Solskjaer's side host Watford in the cup and have a mid-week Premier League tie with Burnley.
Come kick-off, the ball may be in United's court, should they beat the Clarets, as victory in both matches would put them six points clear.
For all the hype around United though, Wednesday's Carabao Cup defeat against Manchester City highlighted some ever-present flaws within the side that have handed Liverpool the blueprint to securing victory next week.
Lacklustre defending for the opening goal saw John Stones have a comfortable finish at the far post following a free-kick, with £80m Harry Maguire again called into question.
While United showed their counter-attacking threat in the game, they couldn't capitalise on it and there were gaps defensively - with City allowed 12 total shots in 90 minutes.
The concern for Liverpool is that their usual devastating attack has been out of sync in recent weeks, failing to score in their last two and ultimately finding the net just once in the three matches since the 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace.
City showed though that, if you maintain pressure, it's pretty inevitable that mistakes will come from this United side.
Indeed, the discussion about United's improvements have perhaps been premature. After all, this is a side who suffered an early elimination from the Champions League and have defeated just one top-half side, Aston Villa, in the league in the weeks since their continental exit.
Liverpool are, in truth, the next big test that United and their title credentials have, with Solskjaer's side failing to beat Leicester City and Manchester City in the Premier League since their loss in Leipzig.
The biggest caveat to the Carabao Cup loss is the sense of deja vu - another semi-final defeat and the latest evidence to show that United are currently owners of the 'nearly men' tag that plagued Liverpool for so many years.
Only once in Premier League history have Liverpool and United finished as the top two. While the pair currently occupy those spots, there's some evidence to suggest the latter will fade away as they have often seemed to do in recent times.
