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Liverpooltees.com

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Wow! What a season! So we missed out on putting the cherry on the top of the cake, but we still had an incredible season. Going from 7th to 2nd in the Premier League is no mean feat – in fact, it’s never been done before! – and we go straight through to the group stages of the Champs League - safely avoiding the usual potential banana-skins of Eastern European League winners. What’s more, we have a solid and generally young squad which we take with us into 2014/15, complete with one of the best strikers in the world in Luis Suarez, who has already committed his daughter to a local school, and himself to Anfield for another season. If we can buy well in the summer (and given BR’s past record, it seems very likely!), then there is a chance that we can start to collect the silverware we deserve. That’s not to say that it will be any easier next year: the clubs around us have deep pockets, and we can realistically expect Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City to invest heavily in their squads over the summer. Luis Van Gaal will also have a busy summer, and Spurs have not bought Pochettino in for nothing. With Everton also hoping to develop going forwards, then it looks like there will be seven teams challenging for just four Champs League spaces next year. But it will be an interesting summer for us too! After years of sitting on the sidelines, we have genuine pulling power for world class talent, and it will be exciting to be linked to (and sign) big name players of real quality! Of course, the summer will also be interesting with the small matter of the World Cup taking place… Enjoy the summer, and see you in August!

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Message from the Editor What a season!

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Postbox Fan rants and opinion

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Flying High BR has done pretty much everything right so far, but where can we go from here?

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Keepers Are we sorted between the sticks for many, many years to come?

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Defenders The one area we have struggled in. How can we make next season better?

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Midfielders Michael Reid runs the rule over the midfielders.

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Strikers Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling, Coutinho, Borini...Do we have strength in depth?

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How was it for you? Our team of writers give us their thoughts on where it went right, where it went wrong, and where we need to improve next year!

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Dear Anfield Roar, Just to say, we had an amazing time this season, and I can’t wait to see what Brendan Rodgers does next - he really could be the man to take us up to the next level! Looking forward to seeing Champions League quality players arriv-ing this summer! YNWA Jack Blood, via email _________________________________________________________________ Dear Anfield Roar That slip against Chelsea. It's actually the worst thing that's ever happened to a Liverpool player on the pitch( that sounds melodramatic but I can't think of anything that compares) It happened to one of best players, but he can take it. So called great players come and go but it takes real character to keep coming back. Gerrard is the one few men I still look up to. Total Hero. Simon Hayworth, Hale 5

Painful to watch

Dear Anfield Roar, I'm a United fan, and it seems a long time now since Gerrard burst on the scene as a gan-gly youth. As with many of the so-called Golden Generation, there's been a definite period, for me at least, where I've got rather fed up with them. But a bit like Ashley Cole and even John Terry in the twilight of their careers there's something I find quite sad about the fact that they're not going to be around much longer. Selfish twat that I am it's probably just because it reminds me that I'm getting old. Anyhow Gerrard's slip was the defining moment, there's no point arguing otherwise. But he took Liverpool on a hell of a ride and the romantic in me tends to think that losing something spectacularly is more human and graceful than actually winning. And it's only a spectacularly ugly looking trophy! I suppose I'd just like to say though that I think Gerrard has been terrific this season. Robert Thompson, Liverpool __________________________________________________________________ Dear Anfield Roar, Man City took just 1 point out of 18 in their first six away league matches this season. That's unlikely to happen again next season. Chelsea dropped around 20 points against crap teams this season. That's unlikely to happen again next season. Man Utd had their worst season in a quarter of a century. That's NOT going to happen again next season.

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Hero.

POSTBOX

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And Arsenal, well who knows about those lot but you would have to imagine, regardless of whatever else they might be, e.g., injury crisis, bottlers, Wenger being tactically naive, that the days of losing their best players are over & they will likely add a few good players more to an already very talented squad. This was a massive opportunity squandered for Gerrard & Co. Liverpool had quite a few advantages this season that they won't have next season. No CL, rarely anyway midweek games, no 3 games in a week, week long preparation to study, rest for the op-position. All that's gone next season. It's hard not to see City & Chelsea going past 90 points next sea-son & the likes of Arsenal &, especially Utd, not improving their squad by considerable margins. Basically, the league next season will be far tougher to win next season, hard as it is to imagine, seeing as this season was proba-bly the most competitive yet. Richard Smallman, Fazackerley

Contact us Email: editor@anfieldroar.com Tweet: @anfieldroarmag Web: use the contact form on our site

POSTBOX

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Liverpooltees.com

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As another season is completed, the Club look to be on the right path once more. A place into the Champions League has been secured. The League Title came within our grasp. A massive step forward has been taken by LFC. Without CL football next football, the club would have fallen further behind the other clubs with wealthy owners or teams with larger stadiums which produce greater match day revenues. It would have been a long road back! There is a great deal to look forward to next season. Hopefully the progress will carry on and we can build upon this seasons positives. Brendan Rogers himself will have learnt many new skills from having experienced another full season managing in the Pre-mier League. He, like his players, will be learning all the time.

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Paul Baker gives us his view on the 2013/14 season, and looks ahead to an exciting summer and close-season...

Flying High

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SEASON

In almost all games, the tactics employed by BR have been spot on - the side have shown the right level of aggressive, they are always looking to press the opposition and they look to make full use of their pace when on the break. One such game that still stands out for me is the match against Manchester United. To win at Old Trafford 3-0 is always going to a special day, but the tactics on offer were an example of BR ability as a manager. With Raheem Sterling at the tip of the diamond, he caused no end of problems to Fellaini – indeed, Raheem was only tackled once all game by the Belgian! Steven Gerrard scored his penalty kicks and played well in the holding role. That allowed Allen and Henderson to be slightly more advanced. Whenever the wide pair of United, Adnan Januzaj and Juan Mata collected the ball, the midfield duo were able to go and try to retrieve it or offer cover to the full backs. This led to a lack of supply to the Man Utd forwards.

The side scored over 100 goals last season, and in 16 games they scored three or more goals, including against teams from the top half of the table. Where BR and his staff will need to continue to develop, is when the sides primary approach is to defend deep and with numbers and look to counter attack. When Chelsea came to Anfield in April, the title looked to be heading to the Reds. However Chelsea came with the sole intent of picking up a goalless draw. The only attacking tactic on offer

“To win at Old Trafford 3-0 is always going to a special day, but the tactics on offer were an example of BR’s ability as a manager.”

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was to try and put pressure on the Liverpool goal when they were awarded free kicks and corners up the field. The Liverpool side had plenty of possession that day, but were unable to break Chelsea down. Sterling and Coutinho were both guilty of coming inside too much and making the space far too narrow. The Reds full backs were reluctant to come forward, as this would have offered space for the Chelsea counter. This style of play will be used by visiting teams next season in the Champions League. A period of pre-season will be needed to come up with the correct tactics and a flexible system, so the players are able to break down sides and force them to come out and play. During the game the players will need to be able to make changes in an instant to create goal scoring chances. Dr Steve Peters will no doubt be made use of. The players who have never played in the Champions League before may need some guidance in order for them to fulfil their promise and individual abilities: there is no doubt that the European games will be different from the Premier League matches. The Manager will need to be given the full backing from the owners in the transfer market. The side still need five or six top players, who have both Champions League and International experience. It will be a long and difficult season, so it is vital the squad is improved and the number of quality first team players increased. Now that the World Cup around the corner, it's time to cheer on England and the Liverpool players in the side. Let's hope the players do themselves and the Country proud and that the Reds in the squad return injury free!

SEASON

Expertly written by: Paul Baker Feedback? Send your feedback to : @paul_baker

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1-0 up and on edge, Liverpool head into the closing stages of the first game of the season, against a resilient Stoke team. But in the 88th minute, disaster strikes; Daniel Agger handles the ball in the Liverpool area, and Jon Walters steps up, tasked with converting the resulting penalty. However, summer signing Simon Mignolet leaps to his right and palms the ball away, before miraculously keeping out the rebound. It seemed that the Belgian was already taking great strides in fill-ing the rather large boots of Pepe Reina. Nevertheless, the season was not quite plain sailing for the man between the sticks; with his £9 million fee came pressure, heaped on the shoulders on a relatively young ‘keeper.

George Way takes a closer look at how our goalkeepers fared this season.

In spite of this, the greatest pressure came from the man he was replacing – Pepe Reina earned his position as one of the best keepers in the league, but left to Napoli on loan. In what proved to be a revolutionary year for the Reds, there was also a revelation in the ability of Mignolet. He proved over the course of the season to be a man with serious potential – particularly if he manages to iron out some of the stupid** mistakes he made this year.

These mistakes, furthermore, all appear to have originated in the same area of goalkeeping – collecting the ball from the air. Such examples of this are the missed catch against Villa at Anfield, which resulted in an easy goal and 2 dropped points for Liverpool. A less obvious example of this can be found in the game at the Etihad on Boxing Day – Alvaro Negredo managed to somehow grab the crucial goal in a game between first and second in the league. It is, however, crucial to remember that Mignolet did more than make up for these errors – I am positive that, if not for his commanding presence and lighting reflexes, Liverpool may well have shipped more goals than they otherwise did this season, and I am equally confident the future holds great things for Simon Mignolet.

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KEEPERS

“He is a man with serious potential – particularly if he manages to iron out some of the stupid mistakes he made this year.”

Expertly written by: George Way - you can send your feedback to

us and we’ll pass it on - editor@anfieldroar.com

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In a year where Liverpool were pushing for a historic 19th league title, Brendan Rodgers was going to need all of his team’s components working to the very best of their ability. This meant at one end the attackers had to be banging in the goals, whilst at the other a wall stood firm, protecting Mignolet and his goal from any serious threats. In an effort to work towards this goal, Brendan Rodgers splashed out £18 million on French centre back Mamadou Sakho – along with his price tag, the former PSG man looked set to bring stability and good ball control to a potential hap-hazard defence. It all started well - in his first few games he portrayed exceptional aerial ability, and a calm nature when playing the ball out of defence. Unfortunately, a promising start to the season quickly petered out, as Sakho was hit with an injury that kept him out for a large section of the campaign. Along with Agger’s injury, this looked to spell trouble for the Red’s defence.

George Way takes a closer look at how our defenders got on - and where we can improve at the back.

Fully settled now?

Stepping in to replace the partnership were Martin Skrtel and our other summer signing Kolo Toure. What the latter of these two lacked in youth, he more than made up for in experience, using his knowledge of the game to help guide Jon Flanagan through some of the rougher spells in games.

In Jon Flanagan, Brendan Rodgers appears to have uncovered a class full back – his impressive work on the ball, partnered with gritty aggression off it, turned heads all over the world. Brazilian legend Cafu even took to the young scouser, saying over twitter how he enjoyed the fact he was playing well. Perhaps the highlight of Flanagan’s season was a sublime goal against Tottenham. Speaking of goals, Liverpool’s defence provided many in an attacking defence this year (although there were of course a few suspect own goals as well), with the likes of Skrtel notching an impressive six for himself, notably in the 5-1 whitewash of Arsenal. There was, however, one defender who perhaps did not live up to his usual standards in terms of goal scoring: Glen Johnson failed to score across the entire campaign since joining the Reds, and with a few mistakes at the back it was not the best season for the interna-tional full-back, though he still looks set to start for England in Brazil. To summarise, in general the defence did its job this season, but it must be said that were it not for the unbelievable attacking prowess of Suarez and Sturridge, perhaps the number of victories would have been considerably smaller. For this reason, expect Brendan Rod-gers and the transfer committee to be keeping a close eye on the best defenders at the World Cup this year.

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DEFENDERS

“In Jon Flanagan, Brendan Rodgers appears to have uncovered a class full back”

Expertly written by: George Way - you can send your feedback to

us and we’ll pass it on - editor@anfieldroar.com

None of this! :(

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The midfield is the heartbeat of any team. Most of the play in any game of football goes through it, and Liverpool’s has been exceptional this season. Suarez and Sturridge have got the goals, but much of their combined 52 Premier League goals have been made by Gerrard, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho and Sterling – the six main men Rodgers has used in whatever style of midfield he has chosen to deploy at different times of the season. Altogether, those six players alone have provided 32 assists and scored 33 goals in the Premier League, which is an incredible tally to have behind our SaS. All six have been brilliant when called upon in 13/14, and have been a key part of our 2nd place finish. Jordan Henderson in particular has been absolutely vital to Liverpool’s outstanding season. In fact, he was so important to Brendan Rodgers that until his red card against Manchester City meant he was suspended for 3 games, Henderson had played every

Michael Reid gives us his verdict on the play-makers, wingers, battlers and bruisers of midfield.

single Premier League game for the Reds. He brought legs and en-ergy to the team – a key strength of his that helped the sides pressing game immeasurably. Indeed only the more defensive minded midfielders of Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard managed to win more tackles than the Geordie out of the six mentioned players. Not only was his work rate and effort exemplary, but his passing was too. Only Steven Gerrard made more passes in a Liverpool shirt this season, and indeed Henderson was one of only eight players in the entire Premier League to make more than 2000 passes in 2013/14.

Then we have Lucas Leiva – the midfielder with the highest passing accuracy of all in a Red shirt (90.7%). Whilst he contributes the least of the six going forward, his reliability and defensive solidity have made him an invaluable asset to the cause for many a year in the Premier League, and this season has been no different! His fellow Brazilian Philippe Coutinho has also had an excellent year. His goal against Manchester City at Anfield epitomises his importance, and what a goal it was. The technique to wrap his foot around the ball with a volley is something that only the finest play-ers can achieve. Every time he gets the ball, Sturridge and Suarez immediately look for a run in behind, knowing the little magician has the ability to find them with his immaculate through balls. At 21 years of age, he was inevitably inconsistent at times but he will only get better – he is showing signs that he is getting more and more used to the physicality of the English game. He won more than half his duels and over three quarters of his tackles, something that 5’7” creative players aren’t commonly associated with. Joe Allen is a player whom I have always admired. He has taken much grief from Liverpool fans since his arrival but this season he silenced many, although not all, of his doubters. Of the six mid-fielders, Allen has played the least this season – he doesn’t have the versatility of the likes of Henderson and Coutinho, nor the de-fensive solidity of Gerrard or Lucas Leiva.

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MIDFIELDERS

“Henderson was one of only eight players in the entire Premier League to make more than 2000 passes in 2013/14.”

But when he did play, he was hard working, reliable and most certainly looked the part in a Liverpool shirt. An 86.8% passing accuracy as well as 84.8% tackling success rate are figures of a midfielder of high quality. Like Coutinho, he is small in stature but his composure on the ball and surprising strength means he can compete with the best of them! Then we come to the player who many say has been the most im-proved player in a Liverpool shirt. It is hard to argue that Raheem Sterling hasn’t come on leaps and bounds under Rodgers. Pace, strength, and nine goals, five as-sists to prove he has end product – the young player bought as a 15 year old from QPR has not only played as a centre forward, but also a wide player, attacking mid-fielder and even at right wing back! If he carries on improving at the rate he is, he could well be one of the world’s best footballers in five years time. Finally we have the skipper, Stevie G. His slip (the less said about that the better) could be argued to have cost us a first Premier League title in 24 years but his 13 goals (albeit mostly penalties) and 13 assists have been of paramount importance – he has won us far more points than one untimely slip has lost us. To top the Premier League assist chart at 33 years of age is brilliant. He has led by example this season and undoubtedly will do next campaign too. The six players I have discussed here have an average age of just 24 years old. If this season is anything to go by, and one or two midfield additions are made, things look bright for the future of the heart of the Liverpool side.

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MIDFIELDERS

Expertly written by: Michael Reid Feedback? Send your feedback to : editor@anfieldroar.com

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"Oh what might have been!" That's what most of us felt in the wake of a heartbreaking end to the season. No doubt, that was the immediate knee jerk reaction. As Everton and Manchester United giggled, every Liverpool fan who felt 'this was the season' was left deflated. And, let's call it out there, MOST Liverpool fans eventually felt that THIS WAS the season. But time heals, and adds perspective. There was nothing about this season that wasn't glorious. Even the way we slipped away at the last hurdle was glorious. Ladies and gentlemen, Liverpool fans everywhere. We ARE back! Even the most cynical of you out there HAVE to admit that now. Of course, we are not back to the glory days of the 70s and 80s. Of course. BUT, we are back where we were before the very dark cloud of the last 5 years decided to hover permanently over Anfield. We are back at the top table, and history and statistics prove that you have to be back there to have any chance of titles and trophies.

Aizaz Sheikh takes a closer look at how our strikers fared this season.

“So how did we do it? Attack, attack, attack-attack-attack! That's how.”

As a marketing professional, with a degree in accounting and finance, I am a blend of science and art. Today, the numbers are going to do most of the talking. Today, I'm a stats guy! So let's start with the one attacking statistic that is the anchor of this article: 101 league goals. WOW. If my research is correct, that is the second highest Liverpool goal haul ever. The highest was in 1895! It goes without saying that it's our highest Premier League total. The crazy statistic is that it is a 31% improvement on our previous highest in the Premier League era, season 2008-09. More interestingly, and this is more for some of the people who said Brendan Rodgers was not a coach good enough for Liverpool - it's a 115% improvement from the team he took over. In 11-12, Liverpool finished on 47 goals. Chew over that for a few seconds. In a 38 game season, we outscored every Liverpool team that Shankly, Paisely, Fagan and Dalglish built in a 42 game season. We also outscored every team that contained Keegan, Dalglish, Aldridge, Rush, Fowler, Owen and Torres!!! So what changed? Where did these goals come from? It starts with putting the ball in the net, but the success of the 'SAS' is already documented. They scored 52 goals, more than half the total. Can I lean on the 101 goal tally one last time? Please? Ok, well what the SAS scoring 52/101 means that the rest of the squad combined to outscore the 2011-12 team. So we are a 2 man show, are we? Back to where the goals came from. Well, Liverpool reduced their number of crosses from last season, but increased successful deliv-eries. That helps. And they increased successful dribbles by 25% from last season. And moving it along further, what do goal attempts tell us? They perhaps paint one of the most colourful pictures. From the 521

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STRIKERS

attempts on goal, 258 were on target. Rounded up, that's a flat 50%. People are working hard at Melwood. Ok, enough of the stats. Let's look to summarise what you just read, and what we all watched week after week. I'm going to start with the slight negative. It's only slight, but hear me out. From an attacking perspective, Liverpool may struggle to replicate the season they just had. It pains me to say that the numbers are almost shockingly freakish. Let's not say it came out of nowhere, the end to the 2012-13 season was productive. But, with Champions League football, rival teams getting stronger, and teams having had a year to work Liverpool out, CAN this be replicated? OF COURSE it can. Look at what Rodgers and his coaches did with unpolished gems. Why can't they do that with players of a higher quality. As freakish as the season was, how often have good teams gone backwards after adding quality. Not very often at all. I had the honour to review the Liverpool attack in this issue, and did my very best to not gush out plaudit after plaudit. But, in clos-ing, there is nothing left to say other than it was A+, 10/10. Yes, the defence needs improvement. Significant improvement. But you can read the defence article for more thoughts there. For now, spend your summer remembering the fact that nothing summarises our attack better than the new, iconic "Poetry in Mo-tion (tra-la-la-la-la)!!!" song. #YNWA

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STRIKERS

Expertly written by: Aizaz Sheikh Tweet us your thoughts - @anfieldroarmag

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Available now at

Liverpoolshirts.com

Name? Ross Webber Player of the season? Luis Suarez – The Uruguayan is the obvious choice. Breaking records left, right and centre, Suarez again had a stellar season and to think he missed the opening five games as well. Statistically, the number seven was the most influential player in all of Europe, matching Cristiano Ronaldo with 31 league goals. It seemed almost a certainty that we would be seeing Suarez in an-other club’s shirt last summer when he declared his ambitions to leave Anfield, but thanks to Brendan Rodgers and other key indi-viduals, the Uruguayan was convinced to stay and he certainly re-warded the Liverpool fans with their loyalty to him. Young player of the season? Raheem Sterling – What a transition this young man has made. The future always looked bright for Sterling but struggled to tie down a first team spot last season and the beginning of this. However, with help from psychologist Dr Steve Peters, Sterling has completely changed his fortunes, playing a huge role in the second half of Liverpool’s season – and all at the age of 19. Sterling produced some dazzling performances, most notably at home to Arsenal and Manchester City, and also scored some im-portant goals along the way. He discovered a way to utilise his pace and has gradually attuned to the physicality of the Premier League. He could well find himself in Roy Hodgson’s starting eleven during this World Cup and that’s a huge testament to his displays this season.

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How was it for you? We asked our regular contributors what they made of the season just gone, and this is what they came up with...

Best moment of the season? Simon Mignolet penalty save vs. Stoke City – This just beat Philippe Coutinho’s match clinching, crucial strike against Manchester City (which may have won had we gone on to win the league). However, opening day, last minute of normal time, and a Stoke penalty against a Liverpool goalkeeper on debut – to save it was fairy tale stuff. It set the tone for the season. Worst moment of the season? Unfortunately, it’s hard to look past Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip against Chelsea. It would be incredibly harsh to suggest it cost Liv-erpool the title, yet it couldn’t have occurred at a more decisive moment. The fact it was Gerrard and against Chelsea just made it even sweeter for the non-Liverpool fans on the social medias. The crumble against Crystal Palace was potentially worse, yet many had resigned to the fact it was out of our hands at that stage. Best LFC Goal? Luis Suarez (3) Vs. Norwich – There were plenty of goals to choose from, but Suarez’ hat-trick goal against Nor-wich demonstrated the skill, will power and general talent of the man. Earlier that game, he smashed in a volley from 40 yards, which came a close second. However, his third started with him picking up the ball on the half way line, taking it to the edge of the Norwich box where he delightfully loops it over Leroy Fer, dummies to shoot and then undercuts it into the far corner. It’s a shame Norwich got relegated really… Best LFC Match? Tottenham didn’t have the best of seasons but when Liverpool arrived in December, they were absolutely blown apart. The influential Gerrard was absent through injury meaning Suarez would captain the side for the first time. And he produced the most instrumental performance of the season, scoring twice and setting up the other three in a 5-0 rout at White Hart Lane. It was simply the ultimate performance against a Spurs side with high aspirations of their own. Many will suggest the Arsenal game was the performance of the year, but I feel the game was won in the first 20 minutes on that occasion.

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REVIEW

Best away ground / day? As mentioned, the Spurs trip was the ultimate away day, but there were many others including the romp at United, the professional trip to Southampton or the vital, last minute 3-2 victory at Fulham. Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? Probably my favourite controversial moment of the season for the wrong reasons. Fortunately we went on to win the game and was meaningless in the end – Guy Demel’s goal AGAINST us at Upton Park. Goalkeepers often get criticised for how much protection from the referees they get, but it was borderline assault on Mignolet before Demel poked the loose ball home. The ref gave the goal, the linesman didn’t – and then they had a chat before the goal was eventually given. It was a farce, and whilst all of this was going on, the men behind the scenes at Upton Park show the incident on the big screen for all to see! Overall rating for the season 9/10 – If someone offered second place before the season, most Liverpool fans would have taken it in a hear beat. Unfortunately, the season’s finale has left a bitter taste of what may have been, but nevertheless, the primary target of a top four finish was smashed by some distance, which is incredibly pleasing to see. One thing which makes me optimistic... The players will take so much experience from this season’s ups and downs and with the introduction of Champions League football back at Anfield, the team will be buzzing to go again and take that one step further. The summer transfer saga will be as important as ever with Rodgers hoping to strengthen his squad with the additional games next season, but overall it seems the traditional Liverpool image is returning. One thing which makes me pessimistic for next season? My major concern for next season is that the players will see this season as too much of a disappointment after coming so close to the title. It has the potential to damage morale heading into a new season knowing all the good work has gone out the window. Hopefully, there will be no such backlash and the players will em-brace their experiences, pushing them in order to compete again next season.

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REVIEW

Name? TJ Jordan. Player of the season? Impossible not to give it to Suarez. Young player of the season? Raheem Sterling has been good enough to start for England this summer. Worst moment of the season? I swore at my parents when Gerrard slipped... Best LFC Goal? Suarez's 3rd goal vs Norwich in December (No, not the 40-yard volley or the 25-yard free-kick, but the one where he flicks it over the defender's head Gascoigne-style and then hits it on the half volley from 20 yards out into the bottom corner whilst almost falling over. Easy.) Best LFC Match? Everton 3-3 in November. We didn't win, but THAT was a derby.. Best away ground / day? Stoke 5-3 in January - This was the moment we gave up on defence and realised we’d have to win purely by outscoring the opposition. Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? Favourite is the wrong word, but if Raheem Sterling had not been given (very) incorrectly offside when through on goal with us al-ready 1-0 up, then that game, and the title race perhaps, could have been very different... Overall rating for the season (out of ten) 9/10 - Undoubtedly would have taken 4th place at the beginning of the season, so how can we moan about finishing two points off? One thing which makes me optimistic for next season? We have 3 or 4 outstanding players in their late-teens / early 20s. One thing which makes me pessimistic for next season? Rodgers has never had to deal with the added pressures of Euro-pean football - he will have to adapt fast. 26

How was it for you II

Name? Michael Reid Player of the season? Luis Suarez just can’t really be looked beyond can he? Everyone will pick him, and rightfully so but it is a boring choice I admit. But 31 goals and 12 assists for a player who missed the first 5 Prem games of the season is just remarkable and nobody can argue. You run out of superlatives for this player, you really do! Young Player of the season? Raheem Sterling. I really wanted to pick Jordan Henderson, and Philippe Coutinho and John Flanagan have been very good as well but Sterling really does have a certain something that makes me think he’ll be one of the world’s best players in about 5 years time. Pace, strength, and he’s added goals to his game as well! Big hopes for the young lad! Best moment of the season? Finishing 2nd and getting Champions league. Yes, the title would have been lovely, but a lot of my mates were laughing at me for saying we’d get top 4 this year so to get there so comfortably and come so close to glory on top of that has to be the best part of this season! Worst moment of the season? Dare I say it, but the reason we finished 2nd…? That 0-2 loss to Chelsea is the thing that lost us the title so I’ll say that. To lose to such an anti-footballing style was painful. The less said the better. Best LFC Goal? Tricky one. Suarez’s 1st and 3rd against Norwich were special. Sturridge’s chip against West Brom. I loved Sterling’s against Man City. I will go with Suarez’s 1st from 40 yards against Norwich though.

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How was it for you III

Rooney did something similar and nobody stopped talking about it but Suarez’s was better, despite it’s lack of recognition (partly thanks to him scoring 3 more in the same match!) Best LFC Match? Beating Arsenal 5-1 at home. I was in utter shock. 4-0 in 20 minutes. Wenger has been around a long time, but I doubt ANY other side has ever done that to any of his Arsenal teams! Best away ground / day? Beating the Mancs 0-3 at Old Trafford. Doesn’t get more satisfying than that…. oh no wait it does. Vidic got sent off as well!!! Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? Nothing springs to mind immediately here to be honest. For once, Liverpool FC avoided significant controversy for a season! I’ll have to go with a talking point and it has to be the fact that after our 11 game winning run, people were actually talking about us as the best team in England. It was brilliant! Overall rating of the season (out of ten) 9 - if only we’d have won the league. A better cup run would have been nice too! One thing which makes me optimistic for next season? We will only get better. We have such a young side and the experi-ence, albeit a painful one, of so narrowly missing out on the Pre-mier League trophy will only make us stronger in future! One thing which makes me pessimistic for the season? Other teams will only get better too. Man City will inevitably splash more cash and be even better for it, Chelsea look set to get Diego Costa - their only real problem this season for me (aside Mourinho’s frankly tiresome interview style) was a lack of a goalscorer and Costa is just that. Man Utd simply cannot be as bad as they were this season, I don’t think Spurs can either in truth. I have a suspicion that Arsenal won’t be any better though, and Thursday night football may hurt Everton’s small squad so hopefully my pessimism is unfounded here!

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Name? Paul McFarland Player of the season? Jordan Henderson Young player of the season? Philippe Coutinho. Best moment of the season? Beating Man Utd 0-3 at Old Trafford Worst moment of the season? Getting beat 2-0 by Chelsea at Anfield Best LFC Goal? Suarez first goal against Norwich at Anfield Best LFC Match? Beating Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield

Best away ground / day? Beating spurs 0-5 Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? Stevie Gerrards slip against Chelsea. Footballers slip, shit happens. Overall rating for the season (out of ten) 8- The defence could be far better One thing which makes me optimistic for next season? Our attacking options One thing which makes me pessimistic for next season? Defence.

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How was it for you IV

Name? Paul Baker Player of the season? My player of the season is a obvious choice, Luis Suarez. After the transfer drama back in August, he went on to have a record breaking season. 31 goals from 33 appearances. A pleasing stat was he received only 6 yellow cards and no red cards. It seems he has overcome his past demons. For me, it's not just his goals and assists, it's his overall work rate for the side. Not many other top world class players will be found in the left back position helping out!

Young player of the season? My young player of the season is a harder one. It's between Jon Flanagan and Raheem Sterling. On balance, Sterling just deserves it. The way his game has come on this season has been special. He has gone from having bags of potential but seemingly having outside distractions, to becoming a mature balanced player. Credit is due to Brendan and the club for helping him. At one point it looked like he was going down the same route as other promising youngsters.

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How was it for you V

Never say die.

He now has booked himself a place to Brazil. He could be the one England player to shine in the Sun! His pace will scare defenders, the way he is able to go past players. The experience of the World Cup will make him a better player for next seasons Champions League. Best moment of the season? There have been so many highs over the course of the season. I think the best moment was when we guaranteed the return of Champions League Football. That was the aim of Brendan and his side before the start. I know at one point the title seemed within touching point but we just had to qualify. Without that for next season, it would have been hard to improve the side and even to keep hold of Luis. Worst moment? Losing at home to Chelsea was for me the worst moment. Before the game we were all thinking that history would be made and that the title would be coming home. It was sadly not to be! The positive we should take from the game, is that we need to learn how to play against "parking the bus”. Teams in the CL will come to Anfield and play like Chelsea did! Brendan will need to come up with his own system to enable the players to breakdown teams. A great deal of patience will be re-quired by the players and the supporters. Sometimes we are only going to be able to win 1-0. If we get ahead, the defence needs to become tighter and to ensure a clean sheet is kept. Best LFC Goal? With the players scoring over 100 goals, it was hard to pick my fa-vourite one. After a lot of thinking, I decided on Luis Suarez goal against Norwich. The 40 yard special! It was simply breathtaking! It was the first of four goals against poor Norwich that day. Luis will miss playing against Norwich!!!

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Best LFC Match? The best match was the one at White Hart Lane, against Spurs. This was the day when the team turned a corner and showed the others in the League what they could do. The players destroyed Spurs that day. It was the best away display seen for a long time. The manner of the defeat cost the Spurs Manager AVB his job. The team did a outstanding job in 2013/14. With a place back in the Champions League, the boss should be able to take the side up a level. He will need to add several quality players, with experience of playing in the Champions League. They need to be starters, not squad players. The young players from the academy can be added into the squad when they are deemed ready. One thing which makes me pessimistic for next season? The players will find next season a great deal more difficult then the last one. The other clubs will now be very aware of the ability of the Reds to take teams apart both at home and on the road. The Premier League always gets stronger and more competitive each season. The players will need to ensure they are ready and willing to step up for every game. It the team had picked up a result away against Hull or West Brom, they would have been Champions. Every game should be treated as a Cup Final. I am looking forward to the World Cup and to see how our Liverpool players perform. Let's hope they are given the chance to play in their correct positions and allowed to shine. This will assist the club in the battle next season for League and European glory.

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Name? Janoo Wasan Player of the season? Steven Gerrard - Luis Suarez is an obvious shout for most players and fans alike (as proven by his accolades and goalscoring prowess this year), but for me, Steven Gerrard, reinvented in an unfamiliar deeper role, has been the anchor for the success of the Liverpool side this season. He has settled in this deep unfamiliar sitting position, and has shown his versatility (being able to drop back into defence and fill in when the CBs have gone forward), quality (with his mesmerising passing), and passion (driving and leading the team till the very end for the Premier League title). Young Player of the season? Raheem Sterling - Some people might say that the lack of experience in the squad cost Liverpool the Premier League title, but also, the hunger of the younger players aided Liverpool’s drive towards the title. Out of all the younger players, Raheem Sterling stood out for me - he contributed and hassled opponents in an at-tacking sense, contributing to goals and assists, but also did his part helping out his full-backs in defence. Best moment of the season? John Flanagan’s Goal against Tottenham at White Hart Lane - there were many defining moments in the season (Coutinho’s winner against City, our thumping wins against Arsenal, Everton and Man Utd) but for me, Flanagan’s goal shows how far the youth have come this season and provides us with hope for the future. Worst moment of the season? 2-0 defeat against the ‘busboys’ at Anfield - With the league in our hands, all we had to do was win our remaining games, and the league would be Liverpool’s. Of course, the task would be difficult. But the loss against

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How was it for you VI

Chelsea was a difficult one to take. The game was poor in itself - Liverpool found it very difficult to break down Chelsea’s defence (they appeared nervous and unable to string together smooth attacks and passes) and Chelsea themselves looked content to sit back. Plus, the Gerrard slip, which led to Chelsea’s first goal and their win, was a tragic and unfortunate moment. Best LFC Goal? Suarez’s first goal against Norwich at Anfield - It’s easy to pick any of Suarez’s 4 goals from this game, but his first goal in which he curled and lobbed the ball over the keeper, came from almost nothing, and at a time where Liverpool were not exactly comfortable and settled. This peach allowed Liverpool breathing space, totally shocked Norwich and paved the way for the onslaught. Best LFC Match? Tottenham 0 - 5 Liverpool - This was a game that most Liverpool fans believed would be a tricky encounter. At this stage in December, Liverpool were sitting strong but uncomfortably in the league; the fans didn’t know what to expect - would Liverpool mount a serious title challenge or would Liverpool slowly drop off and end up fighting for a place in the top 4. Not only was this result astonishingly pleasing, but this game was the most memorable for me, because I watched it delayed-live on a flight from Istanbul (a place that most Liverpool fans will tell you ‘miracles do happen’). I recall I was very nervous heading into this game, and watching the game delayed-live (having not known the score) on the flight was nerve-racking. When the goals came in, it’s safe to say the passengers around me were a little alarmed and puzzled as to why I was getting overly excited. Best away ground / day? Selhurst Park - Though the game against Crystal Palace has been joked about to the extent that Palace fans now call it ‘Crystanbul’, it was definitely an enthralling encounter. Though, it may be one of the most disappointing games for us LFC fans, one has to appreciate and give credit to the Crystal Pal-ace fans, who stood by their team and began to believe when they appeared to score what they thought would be a consolation goal.

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Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? Liverpool’s Title Challenge - Many journalists, reporters, fans, play-ers and manager all believed that Liverpool would not challenge for the league this season, let alone top 4. When Liverpool found themselves in a strong position at the end of the calendar year, everyone was confused and a little worried, but not many people really believed Liverpool could maintain a challenge till the end of the season with their lack of squad depth. The fact that we managed this and became the ‘talk’ of the season, and the ‘talk’ of the title challenge is, and should be every Liverpool fan’s proudest moment. Overall rating of the season (out of ten) 9.5 - If you’d have told me at the start of the season that Liverpool would finish 2nd and take the Premier League title to the last day of the season, I’d give you a breathalyser test to check if you’re drunk, and then bite your finger off! It’s probably one of the first times where most Liverpool fans were a little more pessimistic about their side, but Brendan Rodgers and his side have certainly exceeded their expectations. However, I’ve ‘only’ given 9.5 be-cause, yes, it is a little disappointing to come so close to winning, but not win the league. One thing which makes me optimistic for next season? Champions League Football - With CL football next season, we can and should surely improve our squad where we need to (particularly in the defence). This time round, with CL football, we should be able to attract and approach bigger and better players. One thing which makes me pessimistic for the season? The Other Challenging Teams Will Begin To Settle - Moyes, Pellegrini and Mourinho were all new managers of Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea respectively and may have needed a little time to settle down with their new squads and with their players. With regards to Man Utd, surely they couldn’t do any worse than this season, and with Van Gaal, they will surely make a step up! Man City will surely strengthen to try to maintain their resilience and Mourinho will now know where he needs to strengthen his al-ready brimming squad. Arsenal, after their FA Cup win and positive beginning to this season, should look to strengthen and improve and Tottenham will look to settle as well with a new manager and their influx of new players this season

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Name? Gavin John Day Player of the season? Luis Suarez. He wasn't just our best player, he was the league's best player and possibly even the world's best player. To match the Premier League's 38-game scoring record (31 goals), despite missing the start of the season and without a single penalty is a phenomenal achievement. Add in the turmoil of a summer in which he seemed set to leave and all his previous disciplinary issues and the Uruguayan's success becomes even more impressive. Young player of the season? Raheem Sterling. The teenage winger had previously shown his ability in sporadic bursts but this season, and particularly since the turn of the year, he has added consistency and a regular end-product to his game. There was even a run of games, a month or so back, when the diminutive speedster was as dangerous and as integral to the team's fine form as Suarez. Scarily, Sterling has the talent to get even better and that is a mouth-watering thought. Best moment of the season? Possibly the hardest question of all to answer - there were so many! High-scoring home wins over Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Everton spring to mind but it is the fans and the return of the famous Anfield atmosphere that is at the forefront of my thinking when recounting many of our best moments. Therefore, and given the extra poignancy of the timing in relation to the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough, I'll say the fans welcome that greeted the team bus outside Anfield before the Manchester City clash. It was a cacophony of noise and colour that provided the perfect backdrop for a great game and emotional victory.

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How was it for you VII

Worst moment of the season? The sight of Steven Gerrard momentarily sprawled out on the turf as Demba Ba skipped through to score for Chelsea at Anfield. The crushing home defeat, just three games out, ultimately cost us the title. For it to happen against the Blues, who've become a bitter rival over the past few years, and in such unfortunate circum-stances was very hard to stomach. We weren't at our best that day but still more than deserved something from the game. Best LFC Goal? Like the best moment, there are a lot to choose from. Personally I really like team goals and the one scored by Jon Flanagan at White Hart Lane was a good example of players working in harmony. That said, Suarez could fill a top ten goals list on his own and he scored so many amazing individual strikes that it is almost impossible to re-member them all. His volley against Norwich City at Anfield, hit from closer to the halfway line than the penalty area, probably edges it. Best LFC Match? Another question that will generate a number of different responses, all of them understandable. We were involved in numerous exciting, high-scoring contests and I lost count of the amount of times I had to pinch myself after become so accustomed to the pragmatic approaches of Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez and, in particular, Roy Hodgson. The 5-1 win over Arsenal was probably our best performance but, in terms of entertainment at least, I'll plump for the 3-3 draw with our neighbours Everton at Goodison Park. Although it was a game that we didn't win, this was an epic encounter that had everything. The defending of both sides was absolutely terrible at times but it was such an absorbing game that few cared and, for Liverpool sup-porters at least, Daniel Sturridge's late equaliser certainly felt like a winner.

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Best away ground / day? Old Trafford. Winning against your biggest rivals in front of their own fans is always a sweet experience but it was the gulf between the two sides that set this particular game apart. Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? The long-awaited Anfield expansion plans being revealed. We've needed to increase capacity, one way or another, for so many years now that the whole affair has become a painful saga filled with broken promises and u-turns. To see everything finally coming together, and to have an idea of appearance and time scale in p articular, is a massive relief. Getting tickets has become virtually impossible and the club desperately needs the additional revenue, which the increased capacity and improved corporate facilities will generate, if it's to continue to compete for trophies on a regular basis. Overall rating for the season (out of ten) Fundamentally we may have ended another campaign empty handed but that only tells a very small part of the story. The bigger picture is unbelievably positive with Champions League football and entertainment firmly back on the Anfield agenda. To jump from seventh to second, especially to do so with such a youthful team containing a strong base of British players, is remarkable. This past season will go down as one of the most exciting of all time, with some classic matches, crazy incidents and unexpected story lines throughout. It was a privilege to watch Liverpool play such a massive part in it. One thing which makes me optimistic for next season? We know where we need to strengthen; defensively. Conceding 50 goals - more than everyone else in the top eight except Spurs - is fundamentally what cost us the title. Our style of play contributed but there were way too many fundamental errors that just shouldn't happen at the top level. An organiser in the middle, new full-backs and a defensive mid should all be on our shopping list. One thing which makes me pessimistic for next season? We had an amazing season but many of the other big sides under-performed versus expectations and we still didn't manage to get over the line. Of course we will strengthen over the summer but so will they...

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Name? Emanuel Ivan Player of the Season? I would’ve went for Daniel Sturridge , as his goals earned us a total of 18 points throughout the season, but let's be fair, Luis has been absolutely brilliant. Or as Stevie said about our number 7: “…this player is in a league of his own.” So player of the season for me? Luis 'El Pistolero' Suarez. Young player of the season? He contributed with 9 goals and 5 assists to the team this season. What impressed me the most though was his ability to adapt to Rodgers' constant change of tactics, which meant that he had to play in different roles on the pitch throughout the season. Sterling. Best moment? Coutinho scoring the third goal against Man City. I was watching the game at my friend's house, so I tried to contain my jubilation. It worked for the first two goals, but when our diminutive brazilian scored the third goal I was like: 'screw this', and I started celebrating like probably all of you did. The fun part was that after the moment, my friend went like: 'Dude, if you scream, at least do it properly!' So he opened the window and started yelling 'GOALL!!!!'. Awesome memory. Worst moment of the season? Second half against Chelsea on Anfield. It wasn't enough that Mourinho sent two buses on the field, but the 'plastics' actually won... Nevertheless, I'll never be ashamed of losing after playing 'The Liverpool Way'. I would be ashamed of winning 'Jose's way'.

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How was it for you VIII

Best LFC Goal? Daniel Sturridge's chip against West Brom on Anfield. Absolutely class from Dan the Man. Best LFC Match? Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal – Arsenal were league leaders at that time. So the fact that we trashed the team 5-1 sent out a signal that Liverpool mean business. In short: Gunners got gunned. Best away ground / day? The 5-0 win over Tottenham. It's our biggest ever win at White Hart Lane. It becomes even more awesome when you remember that Gerrard and Sturridge were injured and even Flanno scored a goal. Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? The press conference dialogues be-tween Mourinho and Rodgers. It started with the 'little horse story' made by Mourinho, to which our gaffer replied: "Jose is very good at all that. We may be the chihuahuas that run in between the horses' legs", and it ended with: "there were probably two buses parked today instead of one." At the end of the day they are still buddies. Class from BR. Overall rating for the season? I know that our defence needs improvement, but taking into consideration that we finished 7th last season, for me this season was close to perfection. So it's a ten out of ten for me. One thing which makes me optimistic for next season? The fact that we qualified for UEFA Champions League, combined with the offensive style of play means that, after a long time, top players will actually be willing to join us. One thing which makes me pessimistic for next season? Our squad's ability to cope with domestic and European competi-tions. But just for the moment, as I trust in our staff to add quality to the team this summer.

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Name? Aizaz Sheikh (@a1zaz on Twitter - follow me!) Player of the Season? It's a tough one. Obviously Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge had great seasons. That said, I am inclined to go for neither because I felt that both went missing (although Sturridge was injured!) at the crunch time of the season. So, my player of the season is Jordan Henderson. From the first game, he was the heartbeat of the team. He is selfless, brave, committed and Energizer and Duracell would start a bidding war if they knew what he runs on. Young player of the season? Has to be Raheem Sterling. What a breakout season. He started off the season as an absolute shadow of the player that ended it. What happened before the Tottenham away game, we might never know. And really, who cares? All we know is that we have a poten-tial superstar on our hands, and the next few years are going to be very exciting. Best moment of the season? Wow, where to start? Tottenham away? Arsenal and Everton at home? The Old Trafford demolition of Man United? The Coutinho winner against city? All qualify, but the one that stands out - Stevie's inspirational "We Go Again!" speech. The huddle, his words, and the scouse accent beaming across the world. Epic! Worst moment of the season? The slip. Let's move on. Best LFC Goal? One of Suarez's against Norwich. I'll go with the audacious volley from the half way line.

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How was it for you IX

Best LFC Match? Best spectacle - the home game against City. Of course, the way we steamrolled other teams was a joy to behold, but this was different. We went 2-0 up, and the 'best team in the country' came roaring back. They had the momentum and they had the best player on the pitch. David Silva, on the day, was terrorising. And yet, it was our pocket-sized dynamite who scored the late winner. Best away ground / day? I want to say Man U, but we blew them away with ease. So, it would have to be Tottenham at the Lane. That was a landmark moment for fans, Brendan, some of the players, especially Sterling. Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? Favourite talking point - it's not a controversy, but it is a talking point. The fans welcoming the team before games. Come on guys - which other "big team" can boast anything near that. Some of the Premier League giants buy advertising to fill their stadium! The energy that the fans injected definitely took the players up an-other level. We saw pretty much no nerves from the players until Crystal Palace. Of course, Dr Steve Peters played a role in that. But the fans deserve their own award for their contribution. Overall rating for the season (out of ten)? 10. And if not a 10, a 9.9. Sometimes in life, the journey is more beautiful than the destination. This season embodies that thought. Such highs, and lows, and yes the outcome might not have been perfect. But pretty much everything else was beautiful and poetic. One thing which makes me optimistic for next season? Almost everything. Champions League qualification. Actually sign-ing quality players. And the fact that we have tied Brendan down to another deal. I cannot wait for the season to begin. One thing which makes me pessimistic for next season? Very little. Of course, the high rollers will dish out big bucks. Man City, Chelsea, Man United and probably Tottenham and Arsenal will spend, spend spend. So, if I have to pick one thing, maybe the money factor. But really, not much pessimism over here. It's sim-ple. We go again!

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Name? Emma Rhodes Player of the Season? Luis Suarez – There is no ignoring Suarez and he has definitely been one of the highlights of this season, despite which team you support. Scoring 31 goals in one season, becoming Europe’s high-est scoring player, and all this in a season he started in his box whilst still serving part of his 10 match ban. Suarez has ensured he gained a number of personal awards this season including PFA Player of the Year, Football Writers' Player of the Year and Barclays Fans' Player of the Year. Young player of the season? Despite having Sterling on our side having had a great season and such a big impact on the team, my young player of the season has got to be Jordan Henderson. If you single him out on the pitch, he works as hard as anybody and is constantly pushing himself. His red card during the last moments of the Man City game meant Henderson missed games against Norwich, Chelsea and Crystal Palace and I think it is fair to say that we missed him. I also think Henderson carries himself very well as a player and for the club and I am very happy he has been named in the England Squad. Best moment of the season? Despite many fans being disappointed towards the end of the sea-son as we just missed out on Premier League glory, this season provided Liverpool with some brilliant highlights. At the beginning of the season we were hoping to simply achieve Champions League Football. The team went on to achieve 11 consecutive wins and produce some brilliant scores throughout the season.

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How was it for you X

Worst moment of the season? For me the worst moment of the season was the Crystal Palace match. It was met with desperate hope from many and considered our last chance to really offer ourselves a better chance of being crowned winners at the last game of the season at Anfield. The emotions of all players, especially Gerrard and Suarez was heart breaking and shows the passion and belief that they were carrying. Best LFC Goal? My best goal comes from top scorer, Luis Suarez, for his 40 yard volley against Norwich early December 2013. Norwich must fear the presence of Suarez at every meeting as this goal contributed to another hat-trick, leaving Suarez with another record of 3 hatricks against the same team. Best LFC Match? I would have to say the Manchester City game on 13th April. Every element of the day was great. From the fans giving a truly incredi-ble welcome to the team bus, to the heart-warming Hillsborough tribute before the game and Manchester City certainly showed class paying for a whole page within the match programme. The match itself was nerve wrecking, with meaningful goals, emotions running high and becoming the real turning point in our season with fans and players really starting to believe that the reds could really win the league for the first time since the 1989-90 season. Best away ground / day? Whilst the fans at Crystal Palace were certainly loud during the end of the season clash, the Best Away Day has to be Manchester United in March. Not only did we manage to win (0-3) but their fans were seen leaving their seats whilst we led by 2 goals, both by Gerrard through penalties. Even more fans were then seen leaving as Suarez slotted in a 3rd goal and cemented the win. The United fans have quickly turned to their history and older statistics to remind us all this season that they are still a power house, after years of chanting about our ‘obsession’ with history. Ironic. Favourite LFC talking point/controversy of the season? Referee Howard Webb always causes great controversy in our seasons and this season was no different. The controversial moment this season was when Webb decided not to award

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Liverpool a penalty after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's foul on Luis Suarez, despite being straight in front of the ref during the FA Cup fifth-round. Webb simply shook his patronising finger at appalled Suarez just like he did during the December Chelsea match where he again refused Liverpool a clear penalty after Samuel Eto’o tripped up Suarez. Overall rating for the season (out of ten)? My rating for this season has got to be an 9/10. Despite losing the title at the last game, I was also disappointed to lose to Arsenal in the FA Cup who we had beaten just weeks earlier 5-1 in a compre-hensive home win. However the season went beyond my expectations with many of the players looking settled, determined and very much a team, working together to achieve more. Returning to the Champions League is certainly a tribute to all of the team’s hard work and we can now look forward to next season and the possibility of dream-ing all over again. One thing which makes me optimistic for next season? Gerrard’s speech after the Newcastle match as he spoke to Claire Rourke. As the captain stood in front of the Kop he explained that the fans always improve and seem to get louder each and every season and expressed his appreciation for the fans. The skipper then went on to explain that with the current squad he truly believes that there is still the possibility that he can lead the reds to victory. Despite only having a couple of seasons left, he honestly believes he is still to lift that Premier League trophy. One thing which makes me pessimistic for next season? Our defence does not seem to match the strength of the rest of the squad. There are always mistakes made by all players throughout the team but this season I noticed a lot of little mistakes by defenders which have cost the team possibly big results and very few clean sheets. There are many rumours of Agger, Skrtel and Johnson mov-ing on during the summer, so this may be time to bring in some new defenders but we shall have to wait and see.

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