11 Lessons learnt by Liverpool this season

Better luck next year

With all hope seemingly abandoned of redeeming even a semblance of credibility from their increasingly dire league campaign, a cup run could have provided a welcome retreat from the troubles of the day-to-day rigmarole of league action. However, they humiliatingly crashed out at the first hurdle in both the FA and in particular, the Carling Cup. The shock result of the season saw an under-strength but not completely terrible line-up including the likes of Daniel Agger, Lucas, Ryan Babel and Martin Kelly beaten at Anfield to lowly League 2 outfit Northampton Town on penalties in what well and truly proved the nadir of Hodgson’s ill-fated spell at the club. Diabolical is the word that best springs to mind. Kenny Dalglish’s first game back in charge of the club, albeit on an interim basis, was to take charge of an away trip in the FA Cup to rivals Man Utd – not a daunting task in the slightest then. A penalty in the first minute and a Steven Gerrard red card on the half hour put paid to any hopes fans may have retained of a decent domestic cup run this term. While the performance against Man Utd could be said to have been sprightly, everyone involved with the club will have every right to look back on the deeply embarrassing defeat to Northampton in September as a truly dark day for Liverpool FC.

Continue to next lesson – The Prodigal Son Returns