Only once in the Premier League era have Liverpool had this many points after a dozen matches.

With nine wins, three draws, 23 goals scored and just five conceded, the opening months of the campaign have been packed full of promise.

Yet bullish predictions from Reds fans are thin on the grounds. Why?

The obvious answer is Manchester City. The champions are two points clear at the summit and their form is ominous.

But the other reason is that Kopites have been here before. It's still early days and they know to their cost how quickly the landscape can change.

Liverpool also had 30 points out of a possible 36 back in 2002/03 and that season acts as a cautionary tale.

In November 2002 Gerard Houllier's side were four points clear of Arsenal at the top. Having finished second the previous May, hopes were sky-high that the Reds would go one better.

Game 13 was Middlesbrough away. Liverpool's bubble was well and truly burst at the Riverside.

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Jerzy Dudek's mistake was punished when Gareth Southgate scored the only goal of a dour contest eight minutes from time.

Genuine title contenders respond defiantly to a setback but Liverpool's season disintegrated.

Three days after losing to Boro they crashed out of the Champions League after failing to beat Basel.

The wheels came off. Liverpool's winter of discontent saw them go 11 league matches without a win – the club's worst run for half a century. They took just five points out of a possible 33.

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The Reds had slumped to seventh in the table before they finally stopped the rot with a narrow victory over Southampton in mid-January.

Manchester United were beaten in the League Cup final but Liverpool trailed home fifth in the Premier League – 19 points adrift of Alex Ferguson's champions.

Liverpool Manager Gerrard Houllier August 2002 with new summer signings Salif Diao, El Hadji, Patrice Luzi and Bruno Cheyrou ©Mirrorpix

Poor recruitment ultimately proved costly as new signings El Hadji Diouf, Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou flopped.

Senegal international Diouf was the most expensive acquisition. The £10million striker netted twice on his home debut but didn't score another league goal until March. Houllier's decision to buy him rather than Nicolas Anelka backfired badly.

History shouldn't repeat itself. Jurgen Klopp has bought wisely and certainly boasts greater strength in depth than the talent at Houllier's disposal. Liverpool, who have yet to really click, look well equipped to maintain a challenge.

Now they face their game 13 - a tricky trip to Watford on Saturday. With Paris Saint-Germain away in the Champions League and then the small matter of the Merseyside derby, it's a crunch week.

Liverpool are about to enter the most intensive period of the season. Between now and going to the Etihad to face City on January 3, they play 10 matches.

If they succeed where the class of 2002/03 failed and keep the feelgood factor going into the new year then belief will really start to grow that the big prize could be within their grasp.