Leicester City spent 325 days in the Premier League's top four last season — including the three-month break because of the coronavirus pandemic — before finishing fifth.
Brendan Rodgers was desperately disappointed with that collapse. To finish fifth in this division is by no means a disaster, but this is a top-level coach who wants to be competing at the highest level.
He got a taste of the Champions League with Liverpool and Celtic, and is now dragging Leicester into a top-four fight.
For the Foxes to sit second at Christmas is outstanding, and two players who were immensely important in their last win over Tottenham were Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison.