Genuine question and not a play on semantics - but does this count as a title challenge given where we are with a third of the season still to play? And if not (i.e. if like me you think we were in a posiiton to mount a challenge and now we are not), that does that not mean 5 years without a challenge under Rafa? Wasn't Houllier sacked for less?
I'm genuinely interested if this year constitutes a challenge given that was the defining criteria when giving Rafa the job - and indeed on polls last summer many people said this season had to see a challenge.