Do not scratch your eyes West Ham fans, this is really happening.
Granted it is just 11 games into the season, but Hammers supporters will wake this morning to see their side third in the Premier League table -- just three points off the top-spot having leapfrogged Liverpool with a thrilling 3-2 victory on Sunday.
Flexing genuine top four credentials in the league, poised to fly through as group winners in the Europa League and preparing for a quarterfinal EFL Cup clash with arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in December -- seasoned supporters could be forgiven for assuming this whole campaign has been wickedly constructed as some cruel mirage.
The London Stadium -- so often a mire of antipathy and gloom since the club's emotional departure from their spiritual home of Upton Park in 2016 -- this season buzzes with pride over a team brimming with confidence, a redemption arc embodied by manager David Moyes.
Having taken over a side battling relegation in December 2019, Moyes has turned West Ham into an intimidating team characterized by dogged defensive effort and swift counter-attacking threat.
Sunday's victory over Liverpool, who arrived in East London looking to extend a 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions, epitomized this new-era West Ham.
The home side took the lead just four minutes in when Alisson failed to deal with Pablo Fornals' swinging corner, the ball flicking off the Brazilian goalkeeper for an own-goal.
Liverpool's goalkeeper was adamant he had been impeded by West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna, but the goal was given following video assistant referee (VAR) checks for a possible foul and handball.
VAR was soon called upon again following Aaron Cresswell's strong tackle on Jordan Henderson -- the West Ham fullback catching his compatriot high on the follow-through -- but the Hammers survived another check to avoid a red card.
