In the midst of a tense, nervous run-in to the season, every detail counts.
Every word, every utterance is scrutinised, analysed and emphasised.
Everybody is looking for that hint of disunity, that small signal that matters may not be quite right among any of the competing camps.
Liverpool have been subject to such a spotlight for most of their Premier League campaign.
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And there was certain intrigue around Manchester City this week after their Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
Having missed a controversial penalty early on, Pep Guardiola's side lost their way sufficiently enough for midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to suggest the team lacked bravery in dealing with setbacks.
Guardiola wasn't happy with that.
“I don’t agree with him," said the City boss. "Absolutely not.
"There are games when we concede a goal and we are not there, but in this case we conceded a goal and nothing happened. Especially in the second half it was under control.
“Of course we want to do well, especially in the Champions League, but in that case in this specific game I don’t think I agree.
“He can say whatever he wants. I like when they express what they believe, but it’s happened many times in my career in specific games when they lost a little control."
Gundogan was maybe just trying to aim a kick up the backside of his team-mates in the wake of a potentially damaging defeat at the start of a testing run of games.
But it did expose an issue that has been bubbling under the surface at the Etihad - and could offer encouragement to Liverpool.
City have been behind for just 10 minutes in the Premier League since shipping a late goal when losing at Leicester City on Boxing Day.
That came in the defeat at Newcastle United in January, when City couldn't respond after conceding an 80th-minute penalty.
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In fact, City have been behind in only five Premier League games this season. They lost four with the other a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
One of those defeats, of course, came at home to Crystal Palace, who they visit on Sunday before Liverpool's pivotal home clash with Chelsea.
City have been cruising through many of their games since the turn of the year, often helped by an early goal.
But against Tottenham, they came up against a roadblock and couldn't fathom a way around it.
By contrast, Liverpool have been steeled by a succession of late winners and points gained from losing positions, results which Gundogan, in a different interview, dismissed as "very lucky".
Nobody doubts City's talent and style of play. And when behind in the Champions League and FA Cup to Schalke and Swansea City recently, they eventually emerged with the victory, albeit against hugely inferior opposition.
It won't be anywhere near as straightforward in the closing weeks.
And with the margins so small, that City have shown a chink in their character could be something on which Liverpool can grasp as their Premier League and Champions League challenges enter the final stretch.
