With a difficult Premier League campaign now entering its final third, Liverpool's recent history at least provides a cause for optimism for Jurgen Klopp.
A dour goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday night was a frustrating one as they failed to really turn the heat on Tottenham in fourth place prior to their own 2-0 win over Chelsea in the London derby the following afternoon.
It leaves Klopp's side now nine adrift of that final Champions League place but with two games in hand to come. Crucially, Antonio Conte's men also have to visit Anfield in two months' time. How big might that game be on April 30?
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It's been a tough term for the Reds since it got underway with an underwhelming draw at Fulham in August and talk of a large-scale rebuild for Klopp has lingered around the discourse for many months now.
Until the German is permitted to begin that, though, there is still work to be done and the club's hopes of attaining the top-tier talent they believe can re-establish them as a genuine force will be greatly aided if the European Cup is on the agenda once more.
"Look, when you come to Crystal Palace it is always a tough game, we've seen that over the years and tonight was no different," Andy Robertson told the ECHO after Saturday's draw. "I thought in the first half we were really good, started on the front foot, created some openings where we just couldn't quite pick the last pass and stuff like that.
"The second half, I don't think we were as good. They tweaked a couple of things, shut down our spaces that we had in the first half and it was difficult. We had to dig deep but we've kept a clean sheet away from home, which is a positive and we had that chance just after the second half when Mo hits the bar, you know, on a different night that goes in.
"But look, we have to be better, we know we do but we take the point and that's now three clean sheets in a row in the Premier League and you have to keep moving and take the positives."
One thing Liverpool at least have in their favour as we look towards the final few months is their ability to pick up plenty of points at what is so often coined 'the business end' of things.
Last time out, their 12 games between March and May saw them pick up 32 points with just Manchester City and Spurs holding them to draws during what was a thrilling run-in.
Two years ago, an out-of-sorts and injury-hit Liverpool team managed to go on a 10-game unbeaten run that included eight wins to see them sneak into third on the final day of the season.
In 2020, an end-of-season charge was not needed as Klopp's men confirmed themselves as Premier League champions after just 31 games played, while the year previous saw them take 28 from 30 points in their last 10 fixtures between March and May.
This time around sees them play as many as 15 during those same months, due to the unique placement of the Qatar World Cup, but Robertson feels there is ample evidence to believe a similarly strong run of form can aid the top-four pursuit.
"Look, of course, there's always a team that goes on the run at the end. I always remember in my Hull days it was a relegation battle and there was always a team that goes on a run," he said. "There's always a team that goes on a run to get top four and a team that potentially goes on a run to get the title.
"So like I say, we have to be in the race. We've got 15 games now and if we do that we have to keep picking up points and when it is time for the sprint finish, we have to be in the race and we have to put ourselves in a position where we can still hunt the teams above us to maybe take their place.
"That's what we have to do, keep taking points and like I said, the last three games were like hitting the reset. Wolves away was obviously a bad night but then we went and beat Everton and beat Newcastle.
"[On Saturday at Palace] we've got a point. We wanted to win the game but we've kept another clean sheet, so there are some positives to take, we just have to use it to our advantage."
The Scotland captain, who spoke exclusively to the ECHO pitch-side at Selhurst Park, added: "We've got two home games now and we have to look forward to them. They will be really tough but we have to look forward to them.
"We have to keep the momentum, we've got seven points from nine now and if we can get positive results in the next two then we will be sitting in a not-too-bad return. It's about doing it and going out and putting the focus on Wolves now.
"There's a short turnaround and there's a lot of games but we have to be ready. We have to be ready for Wolves at home and if we can get the three points then we move on to Manchester United on Sunday who are obviously in a really good moment.
"So we have to be ready for that challenge. If we keep picking up points then all of a sudden we look at those above us and then when it's a sprint finish at the end we have to be in the race.
"That is what we have to do and the only way to do that is by winning games. When we're not at our best here, picking up a point here [is beneficial]. They put us under pressure towards the end with some free-kicks and corners but we got a point. Now we have to move on and then try and win the next game. If we can do that then the league will look better and better and then it will be a sprint finish."
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