“So those three things are the signs that things are sprouting and it will give the players the belief that they will do it.”

Thompson, however, believes that maintaining this start and turning it into a genuine tilt for honours rests on Benitez keeping his best players fresh for the league – even at the expense of chasing European glory.

And the former assistant manager hopes lessons will have been learned from the way last season’s promising start disintegrated during the winter.

“It was December before we lost our unbeaten record at Reading last year,” said Thompson.

“Steven Gerrard was taken off when we were 2-1 down to preserve him for a Champions League game, but you have to say that game should never have been given up – we scored three in six minutes in Istanbul.

“That was throwing the towel in to prepare for the Champions League. This time the management has to say that they will play the best team, or at least the core, in the league.

“Because I honestly believe Rafa can bring us the Holy Grail – as long as his best players stay fit and play every week.

“And I would sacrifice the Champions League. The glory of 2005 is still quite close but the league? It’s been 19 years if we don’t do it this year and that’s too long.”

Another reason Thompson hopes his initial prediction won’t come true is because Manchester United will then share with Liverpool the record of 18 English titles if they complete a hat-trick of Premier League wins.

“I don’t even want to talk about that aspect of it,” says Thompson. “I start to feel queasy about it. Their haul since we last won it has been quite astonishing.”