Historically, Liverpool were already in a title-winning position before a ball was kicked on Wednesday.

After beating Manchester City on Sunday, they were nine points clear of second place after 13 league games.

Only two teams in Premier League history have had a lead of at least nine points after the same number of games – Manchester United in 1993-94 and Chelsea in 2005-06 – and both won the title.

However, many still urged caution in the fight at the top – including Reds boss Arne Slot.

The Dutchman said before the game against Newcastle that 19 games would be a better barometer for the development of the title race, an opinion that may only have been confirmed after the 3-3 draw.

City’s loss to Liverpool left them 11 points behind the Reds, but that has been reduced to nine and history shows they are quite capable of overcoming that gap.

In the 2018/19 season they were 10 points behind Liverpool after poor form in December, but then won 18 of their 19 games from the 30th of the month to secure the title.

“I think we know Man City are not out of the title race – they will have a say,” former Manchester City player and manager Stuart Pearce said on Amazon Prime.

“There will be many twists and turns in the title race. That’s what makes the Premier League so good.”

Former Arsenal striker Theo Walcott added: “This is where you get a feel for where you’re going to end up at the end of the season. It’s a time when you can make up a lot of points.”

Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, with the Red Devils 2008-09 and 2010-11 Premier League champions, said his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson would never enter title talks at this point in the season.

“He would say if we stay first after the Christmas period we will win the league,” he told Amazon Prime.

“He was always very strict at this time of year: ‘Stay at home and don’t go out.’ It was worth it – at the end of the day it’s about winning the title.”