Liverpool

End-of-season report: Liverpool

By Danielle Joynson, Staff ReporterPublished: 14 May 2012 12:30 PM

With Liverpool failing to reach their aim of Champions League qualification this season and experiencing their fair share of controversy along the way, Sports Mole takes a look back at their campaign.

Liverpool began the 2011-12 campaign with hopes of bringing Champions League football back to Anfield but throughout the twists and turns of the campaign, qualification became a distant dream for the Merseyside club.

From the crucial second half of the season Kenny Dalglish's side failed to improve on their Premier League form but continued to dominate in the domestic competitions.

With another thrilling season coming to a close, Sports Mole takes a look back at how the Reds fared in 2012.

August

Liverpool began the season with a host of new faces on show for the home match with Sunderland. It all appeared to be going well for Dalglish's side when Luis Suarez put them in front after 12 minutes. However, Sebastian Larsson fired in after the restart to secure a point for Steve Bruce's side.

Wins at Arsenal and at home to Bolton Wanderers followed though, as did progression in the Carling Cup against Exeter City.

September

The ninth month could not have started much worse for the Reds, where a 1-0 loss to Stoke City was accompanied by a 4-0 thrashing from Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. As well as the four goals, Liverpool also had Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtel red-carded.

Dalglish managed to spark his side into life with a Carling Cup win over Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion and victory over Wolves in the league.

October

Late goals from Andy Carroll and Suarez sealed the Merseyside bragging rights for Liverpool over Everton in early October, before Steven Gerrard returned from injury to score in a 1-1 draw in another grudge match against Manchester United.

The United game would eventually come back to haunt Uruguayan striker Suarez, who had a verbal altercation with Patrice Evra.

Norwich City visited Anfield and left with a point courtesy of a Grant Holt header, while Adam and Carroll were on target in a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.

The Reds also advanced through to the quarter-final of the Carling Cup thanks to goals from Suarez at Stoke.

November

Two victories over Chelsea, one in the league and the other in the league cup, was the highlight for Liverpool in November as they advanced to the semis of the domestic competition.

League leaders Manchester City were also unable to defeat the Reds, although they did leave Merseyside with a point in a 1-1 draw.

December

The Reds collected 11 points from a possible 18 in the final month of 2011, with wins over QPR, Villa and high-flying Newcastle.

Despite this decent run of form, Dalglish was informed that star striker Suarez was to miss eight games because of his racial abuse aimed at Evra.

January

Liverpool headed into the New Year in sixth place in the Premier League table but without Suarez after the club decided not to appeal against the Uruguayan's eight-match ban. The Reds failed to kick off the second half of the campaign on winning ways after suffering a 3-0 defeat away to Manchester City.

It didn't take long for Dalglish's side to avenge their defeat by clinching a two-leg victory over the blue half of Manchester in the semi-final of the Carling Cup. The Merseyside outfit were also successful in the FA Cup fourth round, where they overcame arch rivals Man United in a last-gasp 2-1 win at Anfield.

Despite a positive run in the domestic cups, the Reds continued to struggle in the league, taking just four points out of a possible 12 in January.

February

February was a successful month in the domestic cups as the Reds stormed to a 6-1 FA Cup fifth-round victory over Brighton Hove & Albion as well as clinched the club's first piece of silverware for six years following a 2-2 (3-2 on penalties) win over Cardiff City at Wembley in the Carling Cup final.

Before Liverpool could enjoy their trip to Wembley though, the club had to endure more criticism targeted towards Suarez, who returned from his eight-match ban against Tottenham Hotspur. The former Ajax frontman sparked controversy during the Reds' 2-1 defeat to United due to the player's refusal to shake Evra's hand in the pre-match ritual at Old Trafford.

The club were once again condemned over their conduct after Dalglish fumed at a reporter for suggesting that Suarez's handshake snub may have created more tension during the match.

March

Liverpool had a dismal month in the Premier League, which all but ended their chances of reaching fourth place at the end of the season. The Carling Cup winners suffered defeat to Arsenal at Anfield as well as a shocking 3-2 loss against Queens Park Rangers.

Despite Steven Gerrard's hat-trick against Everton, the Reds continued to struggle to convert their chances in front of goal - hitting the post more times than any other team in the league.

While the league was dire, the chance of clinching their second trophy of the season got closer after Dalglish's side overcame Stoke City 2-1 to reach the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

April

The Merseyside outfit only managed to claim two league victories following another inconsistent month, which came against Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City. However, defeats to Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion as well as a draw with Aston Villa further damaged the club's league position.

While the Reds were struggling to find answers in the league, their impressive FA Cup form continued after they booked a spot in the final against Chelsea following their 2-1 victory over local rivals Everton.

May

Liverpool's hopes of securing two pieces of silverware this season were dashed after Chelsea overcame their North West opponents 2-1 to grab the trophy at Wembley. Emphasis on the Reds' poor league form hit home following the final. However, some pride was restored after a stunning 4-1 win over the Blues three days later in the club's final home game of the season.

Dalglish could record a disappointing eighth-place finish for his side below bitter rivals Everton, but the Scotsman will be hoping that Andy Carroll's recent surge of impressive form will carry on into next season.