Now it gets serious. Liverpools season, after two international breaks and so-called phoney wars in between, starts for real on Sunday.
At risk of being a doom monger, it could end the following Sunday.
Chelsea are the visitors on the 20th and then, after a midweek Champions League game at RB Leipzig, the Reds go to Arsenal on the 27th .
Only after the two EPL encounters, will we know whether Liverpools title prospects are genuine.
Or if theyve simply been making the most of a kind fixture list.
Two league defeats in a row would not be fatal at this stage, but would suggest a sustained title challenge is unrealistic.
On the other hand, to come through with at least four points would be a huge statement of intent.
Nine wins out of 10 so far is good going by any standards, especially for a new manager with impossible shoes to fill.
And the cool, no drama manner in which Arne Slot has taken over from Jurgen Klopp has been impressive.
The Dutchman has been properly respectful to his legendary predecessor but has still managed to be his own man.
Not least the way he tackled the problem position that the club was ready to throw 55 million at in the transfer window.
But Martin Zubimendis loss is Ryan Gravenberchs gain. Not only has Slot found the player for the position, but he has also found the position for the player.
Until this stroke of luck/tactical genius (jury still out), Gravenberch, a 25m buy from Bayern Munich, had looked a bit lost.
Hed never quite found his feet under Klopp who didnt seem to know what to do with him.
But the stiff tests of the coming week may go a long way to arriving at a verdict.
Gravenberchs taking to the No 6 role has had a lot to do with Liverpools flying start.
With hindsight, the lone defeat to Nottingham Forest no longer seems quite as bad as it first appeared as Forest have turned out to be a better side than expected.
But if Slot could only work his magic on another problem player, Liverpool would be looking the real deal.
Frustratingly, the Dutchman is no nearer to solving the Darwin Nunez riddle than Klopp was.
Theres a player in there somewhere. Electrifying at times but those occasions are maddeningly few.
He hits the woodwork for Uruguay as well!
Given limited minutes by Slot, you wonder how long hell remain a cult figure with the fans.
Unable to stay onside or hit a barn door with a banjo for most of the time, he can still be a match-winner.
As it is, in-form Chelsea could provide a rigorous examination for the Reds defence, shorn of Allison (hamstring) in goal.
Caomhin Kelleher has proved a capable deputy in the past but hes not the Brazilian.
Any weakness will be eagerly seized upon by a dangerous Blues attack with the prolific Cole Palmer needing special attention.
The two clubs have produced some titanic contests over the years (as well as nil-nil Cup finals) and this could be pivotal.
A Chelsea win would confirm them as contenders and Arsenal will be keen observers to see how they might capitalise next weekend.
These will be among the toughest of seven matches in 21 days in three competitions for Slots men.
Another wish Kopites will be making is when the contract situation for Virgil Van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be sorted.
With Real Madrid now pursuing the full-back as a replacement for the injured Dani Carvajal, the matter assumes a fresh urgency.
Anxious times but it could be dreamland if Liverpool do the business off as well as on the field.
German can end Englands trophy drought
You know it must be the right fit when the only non-xenophobic criticism is that youre not starting soon enough.
Forget the chauvinists and worse: Tommy Tuchels shock appointment as England manager is a masterstroke by the English FA.
The only quibble is not his German nationality but that he doesnt start work till January.
Compare him to Lee Carsley, for whom the job seemed his to lose a week ago. But it was too big for him, a disastrous game and a dithering press conference later.
There is no comparison.
Both in his expert handling of the press and glittering CV, Tuchel is light years ahead.
If you dont think Englands chances of winning the 2026 World Cup have been significantly enhanced as a result, you must be living in a cave with the other neanderthals.
Thats not to say they will win it the extra gravitational pull this job brings will probably ensure they dont.
It is, after all, impossible according to many whove been crushed by it.
But at least England have now given themselves a decent shot at it.
Besides being the best available after Pep Guardiola could not commit Tuchel is streets ahead of a somewhat limited field.
As for not being English, well, more countries than not have employed foreign managers, many with great success.
Most of Asia has done it, including Malaysia, and South America. Argentinas Marcelo Bielsa has coached both Chile and Uruguay.
And five-time World Cup winners Brazil have been openly courting Italys Carlo Ancelotti for years.
When Englands women footballers won the Euros, no one felt one scintilla less euphoric for it being under the guidance of Netherlands Sarina Wiegman.
Englands cricketers and rugby players have had success under Aussie coaches.
When Greece won the Euros under Germanys Otto Rehhagel, the celebrations shook the Acropolis.
Frances Philippe Troussier became known as the White Witch Doctor after his success with various African sides.
But for finding the right potion, no one beats Serbias Bora Milutinovic who took no less than five nations to the World Cup finals.
Mexico, Costa Rica, USA, Nigeria and China were all deeply grateful and hailed him the Miracle Worker.
Advocates of an Englishman should remember that no English manager has won a European trophy since Bobby Robson in 1997 with Barcelona.
For the league, you have to go back before the EPL to Howard Wilkinson with Leeds in 1992.
The current best English manager is probably Eddie Howe, whose only lone trophy is a second-tier title with Bournemouth.
Compare that to Tuchels 11 major titles with Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Bayern and most notably Chelsea (Champions League, European Super Cup, World Club Cup).
If the German can break the longest trophy drought in football, no one will be crying out for an English manager.