There are just four games left now in Manchester City's season but after crumbling in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid, there's a lot more than 12 points and the Premier League on the line.
Carlo Ancelotti credited Real's history as a reason behind their stunning fightback in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night. 'If you have to say why, it is the history of this club that helps us to keep going when it seems that we are gone,' he said.
At City, for all the resources they now have, they are still carving out their identity as one of Europe's heavyweight. But if things go much further wrong in their four remaining games, it will be difficult for them not to shake the tag of chokers - certainly compared to Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp's 'mentality monsters'.
Pep Guardiola (left) and Jurgen Klopp had two very different Champions League nights
Man City threw away a two-goal aggregate lead against Real Madrid by conceding twice in a minute against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu
A Luis Diaz inspired Liverpool, meanwhile, fought back from 2-0 down to beat Villarreal 3-2
It can't be forgotten that in January, after Liverpool drew 2-2 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, City had an 11-point lead over Jurgen Klopp's men. In fact it was Chelsea who were the nearest challengers and 'nearest' is a loose term - they had a 10-point deficit to overturn.
That gap extended to 14 points at its highest but City will, fairly, point to Liverpool having two games in hand on them at that stage - so 14 points was effectively eight. But that is still a substantial lead for a team of City's calibre and having it eroded to just one is a remarkable feat from Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk all but conceded the title to City that day after Chelsea. 'It's a big gap, they maybe have the title to lose, but a lot can happen still,' he said.
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, meanwhile, agreed that City were going to win the league.
'If Liverpool had won [at Chelsea] and got the extra two points, and if they won their game in hand against Leeds, as you would expect them to do, then the gap to City would be six points, which would be very tough,' Carragher said.
'Once it goes more than that, and you need three games to catch up on Manchester City, I just don't see it at all.'
But now, City have to show what they're made of. The manner of Wednesday's Real defeat is almost ideal for Liverpool. A shock late collapse that will damage confidence, extra-time and another 30 minutes on the legs and an injury to a key man in Kyle Walker. And there is also added scrutiny on Pep Guardiola, whose Champions League record goes further askew with every
