Even without that elusive Champions League, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are viewed by nearly all as the team to beat in European football. Four Premier League crowns in the last five seasons unsurprisingly saw them once again named as title favourites this season, and that was before taking into account the signing of Erling Haaland.
City are eight points adrift of league leaders Arsenal and have suffered two costly defeats in the space of four days, and the champions are still tipped by most to leapfrog Mikel Arteta's side by the close of the campaign. But for Guardiola, silverware no longer matters after the surprise Carabao Cup exit to Southampton was followed by the controversial Manchester derby defeat.
Speaking after the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, he told BT Sport: "I don't care about the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, we cannot win. We won a lot, so it's not a problem."
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It is a startling admission for a serial winner who is currently averaging a little over two trophies per season. City would not surprise anyone if they secured a domestic double from this position, and even finally landed the Champions League crown that is craved so dearly at the Etihad.
Yet Guardiola is the latest 'Big Six' manager to show his frustration in a campaign which currently looks likely to unsettle the established elite. Fulham, Brighton and Brentford all sit above Liverpool and Chelsea in mid-table, with last season's FA Cup and Carabao Cup finalists wallowing despite significant transfer investment.
Newcastle returned to third spot with a hard-fought win over the Cottagers on Sunday, and only Southampton stand in the way of a Wembley appearance for the Carabao Cup final. The Magpies have only suffered one top-flight defeat so far, and have otherwise taken points from all of their encounters with Arsenal, Chelsea, City, Manchester United, and Tottenham.
Eddie Howe's side rightly deserve all the plaudits coming their way, and Newcastle are far beyond the schedule even the most idealistic fans would have had following the takeover. It is only the halfway point of the domestic season, and it could prove to be a tall order for the Magpies to replicate these efforts to finish in the top four.
But Guardiola's admission is the latest sign of this shaping up to be unlike any since Leicester City's fairytale triumph seven years ago. That season saw Claudio Ranieri's side capitalise on widespread rebuilds and poor performances from the 'Big Six' to claim the ultimate prize.
Now this is not to say that Newcastle should be targeting a title challenge. It is already a season to remember for Howe's side, who will have widely exceeded all expectations if they come anywhere close to sustaining their current form.
However, there is also no doubt that the early months have presented Newcastle with a golden opportunity. Pundits predicted it would take United several seasons to gatecrash the top four, yet struggles elsewhere mean it is a feat which could well be achieved in Howe's first full season in charge.
The panic is already clear in Liverpool's and particularly Chelsea's mid-season business so far. Tottenham remain only five points adrift, but the scenes after their own derby defeat to Arsenal show the unrest in the stands as Antonio Conte frequently cuts a frustrated figure.
Manchester United have shrugged off a poor start to pull themselves into contention, but it is still very early days in Erik ten Hag's rebuild project. Now, even City have shown signs of an uncharacteristic wobble.
Alan Shearer has dismissed the prospect of Newcastle mounting a title challenge, and insists the Carabao Cup is now the most important competition facing Howe's side. The Magpies' all-time goalscorer went on to add it would be a 'miracle' if they finished in the top four, even with the struggles of other clubs.
But Newcastle are in this current position on merit, regardless of the indifferent form seen at Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham. If Howe's side repeat their half-season tally to finish the campaign with 76 points, that would have been enough to qualify for the Champions League in each of the last six seasons.
Order could well be restored in the Premier League in the second half of the season, and Howe's side will have to work hard to maintain their lofty standing come May. But when Guardiola and City are dismissing silverware as early as January, you know it is an open season which could see ambitious clubs like Newcastle capitalise.
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