Liverpool’s defeat by Manchester City was a setback for Jurgen Klopp’s side but it is not a result that will knock their confidence or affect the Reds’ belief that they can win this title race.
Their loss had nothing to do with nerves, or any lack of effort or ability, and it is not as if City won by dismantling Liverpool or exposing any flaws in their team.
The Reds were just edged out of a very tight game against one of the best teams in Europe, and it could easily have ended up with a different outcome.
Of course it opens things up at the top of the Premier League table, but Liverpool are still four points clear with 21 games gone, which is better than they probably expected at the beginning of December, let alone at the start of the season.
Yes, they have just lost to their closest rivals, but that is the only negative about their situation.
If you had said to Klopp in August that Liverpool would have clear daylight at the top at the start of January, having just lost their first game of the season, he would have snapped your hand off.
They were always going to lose at some point. Now they just have to react in the right way.
When City lost their first league game of the season, at Chelsea last month, Pep Guardiola didn’t care about that record going – he just wants to win the Premier League, not remain unbeaten.
I am sure that is how Klopp will look at it too. The title was his target at the start of the season, and nothing has changed.
Now his side just have to start winning again. That is what City did when Liverpool beat them in January last year – they just went on another long unbeaten run.