Roy Hodgson has sought to reign in expectations at Liverpool after a wonderful summer for the fallen giants.
Joe Cole's signing from Chelsea, the decision to stay by Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, plus a Europa League win over Rabotnicki have lifted the gloom.
But Hodgson has been around the block too long to start making bold statements about what Liverpool will do this season.
And he will not fall into the same trap as his predecessor Rafa Benitez, who said he "could guarantee fourth place" before they eventually finished seventh.
Boss Hodgson said: "Everyone's working hard to become a team.
"But after seven sessions without what I see as key players, it's obvious we're a long way from sides like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
"They have been working with the same coach for at least a year and in the case of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson tens of years.
"I don't pretend that the team, after 1½ weeks with me, is going to be anything like the one we will become. You work on the training field day after day, week after week, and it would be crazy to suggest we're at the top of our game, or where we want to be.
"I don't make predictions, other than we'll do our best. We'll be disappointed if, at the end of the season, fans say we didn't try our hardest.
"If it falls into place we will have a good season."
