When Manchester United host Liverpool this weekend they will will be a distant second favourite.
That's the reality, but it will not be comfortable reading for United fans.
It's a sign of the respective rise and falls of the two clubs that if the home side do pull off a win, it will be branded as a significant upset.
Such is the growth of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and United's decline since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson that the two clubs have not been title rivals in some time.
Historically, there have been some memorable top-of-the-table battles between the two clubs, none more so prevalent than that during the 2008/2009 season.
At the time, Liverpool were in their pomp under Rafael Benitez and United were under the guidance of Ferguson.
Halfway through the season Liverpool had surprised many and were at the top of the league with United a distant fourth - seven points behind the leaders.
However, reminiscent of scenes with Kevin Keegan in 1996, Ferguson's mental warfare was about to claim another victim in Benitez.
During a press conference, the Spaniard launched into a planned list of points, addressing what he believed to be the footballing authority's preference of Manchester United.
Benitez went through a catalogue of incidents in which he believed United had been shown preferential treatment.
He began: “On 1 November, they [Man Utd] played Hull City and Mr Ferguson had a two-match touchline ban and a £10,000 fine after confronting Mike Dean, the referee, for improper conduct.
"Mr Ferguson – and this is a fact – was charged by the FA with improper conduct after comments made about Martin Atkinson, the referee, and Keith Hackett. He was not punished. He is the only manager in the English league that cannot be punished for these things."
Benitez also suggested that United were given more time to prepare for games, despite Ferguson's constant protests about fixture congestion.
"If he wants to talk about fixtures, and have a level playing field as you say in England," Benitez continued.
"There are two options - very clear - if we don't want more problems with fixtures. One is the same as in Spain, the draw for the first part of the league is known, everyone knows which weekend. In the second half everyone plays the opposite, so you all know.
”Or there is another option. That Mr Ferguson organises the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone will know and cannot complain. That is simple."
Of course, Manchester United went on to win the title that year, four points ahead of Liverpool.
Benitez may not have realised, but he had entered into the exact phase of mental warfare in which Ferguson thrived - the Scot had got under the Spaniard's skin and ultimately defeated him.
Watch the full tirade here:
