The season's come and gone; but while Liverpool FC have once again broken new records (in Premier League points), we somehow contrived to miss out on a Premiership medal once again for the 19th year.
TBH, we've done better than many expected - but now it's time for a performance review of who's played, who's done well, should do better, SHOULD have played more - yada yada....
Points out of 10 folks, as if that should surprise any of you....
Andrea Dossena - 6/10
It's a pity that Dossena hadn't had a full pre-season under his belt. Which is why it's hard to gauge or criticize his contribution or lack thereof. Playing in a hotly contested leftback position hasn't helped his cause either.
What it comes down to however, is that he did cost us a few goals, but he did make up with a few interesting ones of his own towards the end of the season. The highly rated Italian (before he came to Liverpool anyway) does have the potential, but with the likes of Emiliano Insua and the mercurial Aurelio in contention, the Anfield faithful will rightly remain unimpressed with his performance thus far.
Sami Hyypia - 7.5/10
He doesn't play many games, but when he takes the field he still holds his own. Ten years at Liverpool and will be sorely missed, at least till he comes back in a coaching role. There is little to add about this legend and great servant to the club.
He may have lost his pace, but a favourite rejoinder is often that he's never had much to begin with. Rather it's his other attributes - his off the ball movement and anticipation; his heading; his ability to take the ball further up field into open play - these have been his main contributions to the team. Oh add to that his absolute professionalism too if you please.
Daniel Agger - 6.5/10
Beset by injuries this season and by necessity replaced by a no nonsense Martin Skrtel, the Danish centreback has found himself oddly out of favour after just one season as Jamie's regular partner.
Yet when fully fit, there is no doubt Agger adds an extra dimension to Liverpool's attack, which may yet prove crucial against pack-the-bus teams at Anfield next season. It was thus a relief to quite a few that he has agreed a new contract, and many will anticipate a future partnership between he and Skrtel in coming seasons.
Steven Gerrard - 9/10
When you look at Captain Fantastic as compared to last season, or the one where he scored 20+ from the makeshift right, it is actually hard to believe how phenomenal he's been in this campaign. Felt more like a case of same old, same old - except this is Stevie G we're talking about.
But the goals speak for themselves, as does the Footballer of the Year he's picked up along the way. What it all means of course (to our delight) is that the whole team has been playing better - much better than in past years. So our Captain can actually take a breather, and not have to take games by the scruff of the neck as often as before - others can now do that for him....
Fernando Torres - 7.5/10
Alas! That El Nino should find himself playing so few times this season, because we all know what he can do, especially when in partnership with Stevie. Instead, we are left to lament at a season of what might have beens.
Though we have but seen glimpses of his ability, it is worth noting that his reputation has been drawing defenders to him like flies, and thus curtailing somewhat his goal scoring. Thankfully then that he's but one half of a lethal duo, but we'll be hoping full fitness will return him to the echelon of greatness where he belongs.
Albert Riera - 7/10
There were fears that the former Man City player would repeat his unspectacular form from his last PL venture, but those thankfully proved unfounded. Others have questioned his 'star quality' or lack thereof, but he has since made his way into the Spanish squad, and helped resolve our little problem on the left side of midfield.
If anything, Riera will need to improve his consistency level. But there is a general feeling that, his mazy runs and odd goal aside, we will want to see more from him in coming seasons. Here's hoping he will yet come good.
Fabio Aurelio - 8/10
It's been a while since I felt this excited over a leftback - but now all those years of envy over the Ronaldos and Beckhams can at last be put to bed with our very own freekick specialist.
Defensively sound but with a mean left foot, every time he lines up for a freekick from his favoured side of field, you can almost feel something will happen - and it almost always does. His deliveries, direct or otherwise, are nothing short of awesome - his goal at Chelsea a case in point. If the Premiership title is to return to Anfield, he may yet prove to be one of our increasing numbers of jokers in the pack.
Xabi Alonso - 9/10
I'll be the first to admit that I never really appreciated what Alonso brought to Liverpool, even in his first season when everyone was raving about him. What I did notice though was the difference he DIDN"T make when absent against packed midfields and defences. That's when I started thinking aloud how nice it would be if he had played.
Has he been a revelation this season? Most certainly. How so still buggers me - but certain keywords like 'creativity', 'playmaker', 'switching flanks' and 'cross field passes' come to mind. Just a bit more work on that 'penetrating through pass' and he'll be perfect.
Yossi Benayoun - 7.5/10
Some fans may not have forgotten our little 'Luis', but oh how Yossi has come into his own this season! Remember how I said there're now players to help Gerrard take games by the scruff of the neck? Benayoun's one of them. Funny how he's ascended from being an indifferent squad player into our top impact substitute.
His dribbling runs and goals have been a sight to behold. Squad player still? Yes. But there's no doubt he changes games, whether he starts them or not. Come next season, he could well be Benitez's ace in the sleeve, and don't be surprised to see him start against United. He's well worth the shot.
Alvaro Arbeloa 6.5/10
It is perhaps hard to give old Arby the credit he's due. After all, what is he but Liverpool's first choice utility man? Able to play anywhere along the back four (I still remember fondly his stops on Ronaldhino), Arbeloa has nonetheless filled the rightback slot well enough. Here is Mr. Dependable rather than Mr. Spectacular.
Perhaps he just needs more competition to give him a spark. In the absence of Philip Degen, it is telling that Jamie Carragher is the one to fill Arby's boots when the latter's injured. Fans are crying out for more in the rightback position, or hoping Arbeloa becomes a more potent force in attack next season.
Dirk Kuyt - 8/10
Kuyt is another player one often finds hard to appreciate. Fans have for years banged their heads over Kuyt's involvement either as striker or in right midfield, wondering why someone seemingly bankrupt on ideas should continually gain the gaffer's favour.
'Not enough goals' and 'not on the right!' are the common rants. Well, not this season since he's precisely excelled in both. He may not be the best of finishers, nor can he run pass defenders, but you cannot deny his workrate, his willingness to track back and defend - and now add to that his dogged determination to pop up in the darndest of places to score. That's the kind of opportunism that only hard work rewards.
Ryan Babel - 5.5/10
Whatever happened to Ryan Babel? At times so breathtaking, where has all the promise gone? He looks well shot of confidence now. Or has he simply lost interest?
Pace, dribbling, plus a mean right shot were his friends in seasons passed. Now it's like he doesn't know how to use them. Once, we looked forward to his entry on the field to terrorise defenders. Nowadays, when we were chasing a game or a winner, the last person I wanted to see was Babel. That's how bad it's gone.
Perhaps his only saving grace was his picking up a little in the last few games. But it's gonna have to be more, Babel - much, much - more.
Javier Mascherano - 7.5/10
Except for a blip in the opening of the season, probably due to his exertions for the national squad, Mascherano has stormed back to fine form. Simply put, there's no one who 'holds' the midfield and defends the back four like he does. Not Lucas Leiva, not Alonso - both whom I regard more as attacking creative midfielders disguised as DMs.
Strangely enough, our recent fine form in chalking up big scoreline wins has considerably muted Mascherano's apparent contribution. But make no mistake, his role can be crucial against bigger and better teams - and he's the only true holding midfielder we've got.
Lucas Leiva - 6.5/10
The obvious irony about poor Lucas is that many consider him to be a squad player who's not up to Liverpool's standard. Though what that means exactly is questionable, seeing as one who is may not be too keen to sit on the bench - just ask Mascherano.
The reality is that he's actually performed better this season than previously - though obviously not enough. My suspicion of course is that he's more an AM forced fit into a DM role - even more so than Alonso - which makes him a useful squad player to have around when Gerrard's missing due to injury. Still, he's one for the future, though many hope it comes sooner than expected.
Emiliano Insua - 7/10
After some early frustrations with Dossena, it must have come as welcome relief to see a player come through the reserves to perform as Insua did. So much so that he has almost effectively pushed the Italian international down the pecking order.
Insua's contribution has been a breath of fresh air given Rafa's emphasis on the youth academy and reserves. It is a pity he comes up against free kick specialist Fabio Aurelio, making the leftback slot one of the most keenly contested positions in Liverpool. Nonetheless, many fingers remain crossed that he will some day come into his own in the first team squad.
Jamie Carragher - 8/10
There are some who await Skrtel's and Agger's partnership in central defence with anticipation, me being one of them - but Jamie isn't about to roll over and play dead.
Carragher has been consistently our best and most dedicated defender in recent years, and as vice captain he often leads by example with his last ditch tackles and no nonsense approach. This season he's even pipped in credibly as Arbeloa's stand in at rightback. All these from a man who's given up international football for the club.
"Who's bigger than Liverpool?" he once said. Indeed, who's bigger than Jamie Carragher?
David Ngog - 6.5/10
This season has been more a showpiece for Ngog's promise rather than actual end product. With the departure of Robbie Keane, Ngog has found himself pushed to third choice striker in a team made for just one centre forward.
In that respect, the highly rated French youth international actually acquitted himself credibly, if not spectacularly. But then, who really expected him to deliver?
It remains to be seen just how he will contribute to Liverpool's future in a position that can tolerate no margin for error, as we remain in the market for another striker to bolster our team.
Pepe Reina - 8/10
Okay, so he's lost out on the golden gloves this season. I count two reasons for that - our switched emphasis on attack, and Nemanja Vidic. Certainly not because Reina's dropped a notch or two.
In honesty, I do not consider Reina a great shot stopper (a certain Shay Given comes to mind here). What he truly adds to the team is his sense of positioning and penchant for launching lightning counter attacks. The way he comes out - to cover his ground, snuff out danger or to launch a quick ball forward is quite a joy to watch. And if you haven't noticed - it's very difficult to beat Reina one on one - and the reason is not just because it isn't Torres facing him....
Nabil El Zhar - 6.5/10
Another youngster to come through the ranks, the jury remains out on him. But as an impact substitute, he certainly adds a welcome dimension to attack with his pace. Though not as electric or exciting as Babel had been in past seasons, he's still been better than Babel THIS season.
It will be interesting to see how he develops on the right in the future, as it is seen as another semi-problematic area. Dirk Kuyt might have made that slot his own, but El Zhar is arguably a very different player and could yet prove an effective wild card.
Martin Skrtel - 7.5/10
Skrtel has certainly made quite an impact in his first season. No prizes for guessing who, but he's actually managed to find himself displacing one half of our first choice centreback pairing from last season. Definitely no mean feat especially considering he is touted more for his defensive qualities, which is rather similar to the irreplacable Jamie Carragher.
Nonetheless, as aforementioned, we await his possible future partnership with Daniel Agger. And it will be interesting to see who among these two will be Jamie's regular partner next season.
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Is Glen Johnson coming to town?
