Two games this week will go a long way to show just how prepared Liverpool are to challenge for honours this season.
An impressive unbeaten start has put them joint top of the Premier League and their Champions League group.
But, with expectations high, they now face their biggest test at home and abroad, and a closer examination of their credentials.
Rafa Benitez is back home in Madrid tonight, knowing victory at Atletico, who also have a 100 per cent record in Group D, should be enough to see them through to the last 16 in Europe.
And the Liverpool manager would love nothing more than to go into Sunday's league clash at rivals Chelsea with a sixth straight win under their belts and their belief intact.
"I am confident that my players can produce the right performances this week," said Benitez.
"We are showing character and the right mentality you need for a winning team. I don't like to talk too much about percentages but I always say we can improve.
"For me, 70 per cent could be a figure, but it's difficult to say. There is still a lot of room for improvement."
That might well be a reference to the fact Liverpool have also done things the hard way so far, acquiring the tag of 'comeback kings' for producing four valuable wins after being behind.
It highlights the steely determination in the Anfield camp to bridge the gap between being also-rans and champions, and the players are keen for that to continue.
With injury ruling out an emotional return to his former club for Fernando Torres, one player who will have extra incentive at the Vicente Calderon Stadium tonight is Pepe Reina, whose father Miguel played for Atletico in the 1970s.
The Liverpool keeper has been linked with a move to the Spaish outfit, and admits he dreams of a Champions League final between the two sides.
"It will not be just another game because to play against Atletico Madrid is always nice, but in the end it is a match that you need to go out to win," said Reina.
"I have many memories of this club, but it is clear that I will defend my shirt and we will go out and give it everything. I would settle right now for Atletico Madrid and Liverpool to go through to the next round, and that we meet each other in the final."
Atletico are in disarray though after three successive losses in La Liga, including a heartbreaking injury-time derby defeat to Real. That hurt, putting the coach Javier Aguirre under pressure and he might not help his cause if he rests his prize asset Sergio 'Kun' Aguero.
The much-vaunted Argentine and his strike partner Diego Forlan have the ability to pose major problems for the Liverpool defence, but Reina says Florent Sinama-Pongolle, a former Red, is another threat.
"Forlan and Kun are two great players and two great strikers, but it's not only them," he added. "Flo is also going through a great spell. They have a wide variety of players who can make life hard for you."
akhan@thenational.ae
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.