The English Premier League heads into 2011 with the two Manchester clubs locked together at the top on 38 points - only the second time since the league's inception in 1992 that the year has started with joint leaders.
With Arsenal just behind on 36 points, and Chelsea and Tottenham within touching distance, the second half of the title race is set to be one of the tightest and most exciting in years.
At this point it is worth pondering how this has come about, and the clearest conclusion to draw is that it is not the result of a more even spread of the elite standards set in recent years by Manchester United and Chelsea.
The three apparent challengers - Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham - have not done any better by this stage than they had last season. City have 38 points from 20 games, exactly the same total they had at the same stage last season - mostly gained before Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes as coach.
Arsenal were challenging even more strongly last season, when they were just one point off the lead with 41 points after 19 games (five points better than this season).
And Tottenham have also regressed slightly this season, dropping back one point from last season's 34 points at this stage of the campaign.