Perception, they say, is everything. As the Liverpool faithful continue to talk up the revival under 'King Kenny', the reality is that things are only marginally better than last season.
If they fall to a highly possible defeat at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, the Reds will have just three more points than they did after a dozen games under the much-criticised reign of Roy Hodgson.
And now, with Luis Suarez being charged with racial abuse, Kenny Dalglish faces the possibility of being without his best player for several matches should the Uruguayan be found guilty.
There is no doubt the fluid and attractive passing game under Dalglish is a vast improvement on the stodgy style of the past couple of years. But the distraction of the Suarez case is the last thing the veteran manager needs as he enters a nerve-jangling nine days during which his season could be defined.
After tomorrow's match, Liverpool host table leaders Manchester City next weekend before another game away to Chelsea, in the League Cup quarter-finals, just 48 hours later.
If it doesn't go according to plan, the Reds could enter December in eighth position, already out of one competition and with their top striker on the sidelines.