You might have seen the clip from Erik ten Hag's first press conference as Manchester United manager going viral on social media this weekend, the one where he suggests, with a twinkle his eye, that the era of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp's dominance in the Premier League could end sooner than expected.
It felt like Ten Hag toeing the party line at the time. This was the day after the final day of the 2021/22 Premier League season and United had finished 34 points behind Liverpool and 35 points behind Manchester City.
Those two had gone toe-to-toe down the finishing straight once again and although City held on to win a fourth title in five years, Liverpool already had both domestic cups won and a Champions League final to look forward to. It didn't feel like an era that was going to end anytime soon.
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But here we are, almost eight months later, and it feels at least a little prescient. You wouldn't declare the era of City and Liverpool over just yet - certainly not City - but the Premier League suddenly feels as open as it has done since Leicester City's success in 2015/16.
It would be a fool's errand to write off City and Guardiola at this stage, even if they are eight points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. For all of the gloating from the red half of Manchester this weekend, United are still a point behind the Blues.
This season, at least, there is the feeling that City aren't the winning machine they have been recently. They are struggling to adapt to the presence of a fixed No. 9 in the system and there is a sense of complacency or drift settling in after such a successful period.
Perhaps, even subconsciously, they have taken their foot off the gas because Liverpool are no longer on their coattails. It's a rivalry that has pushed each team to remarkable heights in recent years, but City can suddenly breathe a little easier, which might be affecting them.
While Guardiola's side can come again, and can quite conceivably still win the title this season, it feels like Liverpool are on a precipice. A failure to invest at the height of the success is costing them and if they miss out on the top four this season then returning there with an ageing squad and cautious owners looks extremely difficult. It could certainly be the end of their era of success.
It's worth rewinding to May 23 last year and what Ten Hag said when it was put to him that nobody could achieve success in the Premier League until Guardiola and Klopp have called it quits.
"In this moment I admire them. I admire them both,” he said. “They play, in this moment, really fantastic football, both Liverpool and Manchester City. But you will always see that an era can come to an end. I am looking forward to battling with them and I am sure all the other clubs in the Premier League will want to do that."
It's certainly looking like there could be a new name on the trophy this season, but for all that Ten Hag's prediction gained traction over the weekend, it is Arsenal who look best placed to end the era of dominance.
They are eight points clear of City and nine ahead of United after winning the North London derby on Sunday and have the look and momentum of champions right now. Ten Hag's side can close the gap by winning at Crystal Palace on Wednesday and then claiming victory at the Emirates on Sunday, although that looks an extremely difficult challenge right now.
United have won 21 of their last 26 games under the Dutchman, however. That is the kind of run we've become accustomed to seeing City or Liverpool put together under Guardiola or Klopp. Arsenal have taken 47 of a possible 54 points so far this season. Again, that is the kind of lightning fast start that City and Liverpool made the norm.
So while the drop-off at the Etihad and, especially, Anfield is relevant in the discussion, it is also noticeable that Arsenal and United are rising to the challenge. They aren't waiting for Guardiola or Klopp to leave, but are instead meeting fire with fire, so far at least.
It is only the halfway stage of the season this week, so for Ten Hag's prediction to stand the test of time they need to keep it up. But a new era could well be dawning.
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