Are we seeing a wider trend develop in the world of football?
Whichever way you look at it, the underdogs look capable of upsetting the big boys more consistently than ever at the moment.
Perhaps the most lauded sides and players are simply not that good. A worry for England ahead of the World Cup.
Is it a case of the Emperor's new clothes and others have identified that reputations count for nothing when you get out onto that pitch?
Certainly, Manchester United and Liverpool have lost their aura this term.
Teams, other than Wolves, genuinely believe they can beat them which has not always been the case.
United were rightly beaten at home by League One Leeds as the Yorkshiremen were good value for their famous 1-0 triumph.
The champions are no longer feared and an injury to Wayne Rooney would see them in all sorts of trouble with Sir Alex Ferguson, or, more likely, the Glazers are refusing to strengthen the squad with a world-class signing.
Reading were the better side in both games against Liverpool. They may be Championship strugglers but Brian McDermott was able to pick up his first win as a manager at Anfield. Shane Long broke his duck for the season last night too.
McDermott told his team at the start of extra time to push on and win it because Liverpool were there for the taking.
He was right.
Without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Liverpool look a poor team. Even that much-praised duo have an air of depression about their body language at the moment.
But it's not just the North West rivals who have lost a sense of invincibility.
Chelsea have proved fallible this season. Arsenal too - even for all the plaudits that come their way.
And the African Cup of Nations is maybe telling us that this is spreading wider than our top flight.
Ivory Coast had to settle for a draw with Burkina Faso with Didier Drogba comfortably snuffed out by a team paid a fraction of his weekly wage.
Algeria are in England's group in South Africa but they were shocking in losing 3-0 to Malawi.
Cameroon were easily handled by Gabon and beaten 1-0. Samuel Eto'o was apparently not 100 per cent fit. It was a convenient excuse for his failure, like Drogba, to pierce an unheralded defence.
Will we see the same thing happen in the World Cup finals?
It is something worth bearing in mind when placing our bets on the tournament.
The word is out.
The biggest names are capable of being nullified with hard work and extra endeavour. It is up to them to step up to the plate. Can they keep doing this when they haven't a care in the world due to their millionaire lifestyles?
Maybe that's the crux of the problem.
