The Premier League strugglers knew it would be tough. But not as apocalyptic as this.
Since the restart, the bottom four of Norwich, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Watford have picked up just three points and scored seven goals between them from the 17 games they have played.
But as well as anxiety some of those clubs are feeling a deep sense of injustice.
After a 2-0 defeat at Anfield, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith repeated his view that the five-substitute rule is benefiting clubs with bigger squads and he certainly had a point.