Dun you luv statistics?

The stark reality is that, had last season started on September 17, Liverpool would have been the champions. It was the club?s lugubrious start to the campaign that was their undoing and with even Frank Lampard admitting that Liverpool are more advanced than Chelsea in their preparations and less affected by World Cup aftershock, optimism is coursing through red veins.

After the 4-1 humbling by Chelsea at Anfield on October 2, Liverpool picked up 75 points, as opposed to Chelsea?s 67. However, before that match Chelsea had 21 points compared with Liverpool?s paltry seven.

In simple terms, that means Liverpool were the best team in the Barclays Premiership for all but the first month of last season. Now their players believe that a better team will hit the ground running.