If Manchester City do not start believing that they can be serious contenders soon, then hopes of an Eastlands revolution could be lost forever.
City fans may have rolled up at Anfield on Saturday believing Liverpool were there for the taking, but that didn't seem to be a message conveyed to the players.
The Reds went into the game with a whole host of injuries, form that can hardly be described as promising and a nervousness which showed in a fractured first-half display.
They were further hampered by injuries to Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel which caused two tactical shake ups in the space of seven minutes. Yet City didn't put them under any pressure.
And it was only after Martin Skrtel put the home side ahead early in the second half that City suddenly realised that not only were they in a game, but they could actually win it.
Their performance went up about six gears and suddenly they were all over Liverpool and exposing the weaknesses in Rafa Benitez's side - and, once again, their sorry defending at set pieces.
But despite taking the lead their play deserved through Stephen Ireland, they then switched off and allowed Yossi Benayoun to equalise.
City may only have lost once this season, in that pulsating derby draw against United, but they have now drawn their last six matches and are looking like also-rans rather than title contenders.
Defensively they often appear to be disjointed and confused, while Emmanuel Adebayor's goal at Anfield was his first since that now infamous strike against Arsenal in early September.
As their main striker, he needs to be finding the net with far more regularity if City are to push up the table.
As for Liverpool, no matter how many times Benitez and skipper Steven Gerrard insist they are staying positive and still aiming for the title the situation seems to be getting worse.
Certainly Benitez has not been helped by injury problems to key members of his side but, once again, he is responsible for the back-up players in the Liverpool squad and they are clearly not good enough.
This could be a terrible week for Liverpool with the prospect of Champions League exit followed by Sunday's derby with Everton. And the longer-term prospects look even more bleak.
Capello can't ignore Defoe
The criticism of Jermain Defoe used to be that he was a good finisher, but not a team player. He's now a great finisher and if sometimes he shoots when he should pass, then, so what!
His masterclass against Wigan showed a striker in the form of his life, confident of his ability and ready to pounce on any chance. As Harry Redknapp says, he's now the best finisher in the country.
Which makes things a little difficult for England boss Fabio Capello.
Defoe has always been considered a substitute in the England set-up, ready to come on and change things towards the end of the game. But why wait so long?
Emile Heskey is usually the player chosen to play alongside Wayne Rooney and, to be fair to the Villa man, he does a fine job.
Yet, there's no reason why playing Defoe up with Rooney couldn't be even more devastating. After all, you would have two goal threats rather than one.
Defoe will know he now needs to keep his form going to give Capello even more of a headache. And, secretly, the Italian is probably loving the stress.
Follow ITV Football all day on Twitter at www.twitter.com/itvfootball
