Liverpool’s owner John W. Henry was holding a rare briefing at the club’s city centre HQ.

It was the summer of 2013 and, principally, Henry was in town to use the media to communicate more forcibly to Arsenal to forget about signing Luis Suárez. During the course of the conversation he expressed enthusiasm about the season ahead.

“I think we will surprise people this year,” he said.

Aside from assembled eyebrows moving several inches closer to the ceiling, few took much notice. Liverpool had just finished 7th, 28 points off the top, had not been in the Champions League for four years and most supporters would have settled for a top four challenge.

Suárez, rehabilitated and irrepressible, had other ideas. Liverpool went as close as they have been to the title for what will soon be 29 years, losing to Manchester City by two points. Five years on, Liverpool are back in a title shootout with City. Aside from the clubs at the top, there are no similarities.

The word Henry used – ‘surprise’ – is pertinent when comparing the title challenge of 2018 to what materialised under Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers’ bid was wholly unexpected, if not in the offices of Fenway Sports Group, certainly beyond Anfield. There was no hint in the form of the preceding two seasons and Suárez's desire to move to The Emirates demonstrated - initially at least - he did not share his owner's optimism.