Did Liverpool have a good season? [Poll added]

[Josep Dowling]

I’ve just read a quote on Sky Sports that has grinded me. Apparently Klopp would not be interested in the Real Madrid job because of the fantastic season he has just had with Liverpool.

Why is there this notion, especially by the media, that Liverpool had a good season? They finished 4th securing Champions League football on the last day of the season. They reached a Champions League final which they lost in the most embarrassing way I have ever seen a team lose a final. A season where they won nothing. How can this be regarded as a good season?

So I ask the Caf have they had a good season?

If United had done that I would say a resounding no!

 

[Varun]

Of course they had.

 

[Random Task]

I’ve just read a quote on Sky Sports that has grinded me. Apparently Klopp would not be interested in the Real Madrid job because of the fantastic season he has just had with Liverpool.

Why is there this notion, especially by the media, that Liverpool had a good season? They finished 4th securing Champions League football on the last day of the season. They reached a Champions League final which they lost in the most embarrassing way I have ever seen a team lose a final. A season where they won nothing. How can this be regarded as a good season?

So I ask the Caf have they had a good season?

If United had done that I would say a resounding no!

No they had a very average season, secured top four and lost a cup final.

Standard Liverpool.

 

[VorZakone]

Secured CL qualification and reached the CL final. For Liverpool standards, it's a good season.

 

[AndyJ1985]

Relative to their previously shit seasons they have had a good season. You can also see the start of a very good team being formed. If they address key positions then they will probably challenge City for the title.

 

[OldSchoolManc]

They had a season full of hope which ultimately turned into massive disappointment. Same as every other season for them. So I’d say it was an average season.
They will go again. And fail again.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Ofcourse they had.

Yes.

People don't need to be so blinkered so as to throw all rational out of the window. You only need to look at Liverpools record and football over the last 10-12 years to recognise that this was a good season for them. Not a successful one but definitely a good one.

And they didnt lose the final 'in the most embarrassing manner ever'. Their keeper completely screwed up and had a joke performance, but they actually played fairly well especially in the first half. They lost their talisman which took the wind out of their sails and their opponent had a far better 11 than theirs. Brilliant night for us of course.

 

[Decomposing In Paris]

They did have a good season, but history will not remember them for anything but that goalkeeping performance.

Much like ourselves really, we beat everyone in the league at least once, but our season is defined by our exit to Seville, our FA Cup final loss, getting blown away by City, and oddly enough... only getting a point at Anfield.

 

[Chipper]

Yes. This season was the 3rd time they've finished in the top 4 in the last 9 seasons. They've now done it twice in a row so it's cementing themselves as a team who can maybe begin to expect it again rather than it being a rarity, and to do that while getting all the way to the CL final was a good showing for them.

 

[GeorgieBoy]

They definitely had a good season; and will have a lot of confidence going into the next one.
One thing that's brought up a lot, but often dismissed by Liverpool fans, is that Klopp's teams can sometimes fade towards the latter part of the season. Clearly there's different reasons for it, but the last time they played well was that Roma home tie. Since then, 4 of their final 5 games were losses to Madrid, Chelsea and Roma along with a home draw to Stoke. Felt as though the wheels fell off a bit at crunch time.

 

[prateik]

Yes. Very.

 

[K2K]

Yes

You would have to question anyone who thinks otherwise

 

[BBRBB]

Of course it was a good season that improved their standing in European football.

 

[breakout67]

They had the best season of any English team. Best Manager in the league, best attack in the league, most entertaining English team.

6 times la

 

[Samid]

They had an exceptional season. Finished top 4 and went all the way to the CL final with a bunch of rejected journeymen in their team.

 

[Falklander]

Yes they had, playing great football, Champions League final and top 4 and also looking very promising for future with adding Fabinho, Keita and being linked with likes of Fekir and Allison.

 

[Random Task]

Yes.

People don't need to be so blinkered so as to throw all rational out of the window. You only need to look at Liverpools record and football over the last 10-12 years to recognise that this was a good season for them. Not a successful one but definitely a good one.

And they didnt lose the final 'in the most embarrassing manner ever'. Their keeper completely screwed up and had a joke performance, but they actually played fairly well especially in the first half. They lost their talisman which took the wind out of their sails and their opponent had a far better 11 than theirs. Brilliant night for us of course.

The keeper screwing up so badly is what makes it embarrassing I believe.

Securing top four and losing a cup final is by no means a poor season but it's hardly anything out of the ordinary either. In light of the money they shelled out on transfers last summer (3rd highest spenders without incorporating net spend) a top-four finish is the absolute bare minimum expectation. If you're going to spend large sums of money in the transfer market then your success should be measured against that. It's only fair.

Let's also not forget that they failed (yet again) to bring home a trophy. You see people throwing the "no trophies" argument at Spurs on a daily basis around here, but for some reason or another Liverpool appear to be exempt from that obligation.

 

[StillPlayingFooty]

I think we had good one. Mostly because things started clicking more and more. VVD made a huge difference. And we played exciting matches.

Also I am very very happy that Klopp is actually addressing the issues in squad. I bet United fans would feel the same if you know you were getting exciting full backs and knew Jose swearing (or hope to die) to play like you did in the beginning of the season. You would be a happy lot.

These things lift up my satisfaction a lot from the result-wise ok season.

 

[noodlehair]

I think the question is more that is having a good season the same thing as claiming they had such a good season, that they are now a preference over Real Madrid, who have just won the European cup for the third year in a row.

I don't know anyone who hasn't developed a dislike for them over the course of this season, and this kind of nonsense is the exact reason why.

Most teams would consider themselves lucky and honoured to be in a CL final when struggling to finish 4th in their league. When it's Liverpool they act like it's akin to winning the treble without losing a game. There's been TV documentaries, outlandish claims, ridiculous hyperbole.

This is all for a team who finished 4th and didn't win anything. Something that at least 4 teams HAVE to do as good or better than as a bare minimum, every single year.

 

[Luffy]

No other way to put it, really. Their season can't be described as being bad, nor exceptional. Had they not had a crazy run to the CL final, then I would have regarded their season as being nothing more than average. But it walks and quacks like a good season, so I think it is a good (and more ominously, even a promising) season.

 

[Sky1981]

In the grand scheme of history. 11 years 1 cup

 

[breakout67]

I think the question is more that is having a good season the same thing as claiming they had such a good season, that they are now a preference over Real Madrid, who have just won the European cup for the third year in a row.

I don't know anyone who hasn't developed a dislike for them over the course of this season, and this kind of nonsense is the exact reason why.

Most teams would consider themselves lucky and honoured to be in a CL final when struggling to finish 4th in their league. When it's Liverpool they act like it's akin to winning the treble without losing a game. There's been TV documentaries, outlandish claims, ridiculous hyperbole.

This is all for a team who finished 4th and didn't win anything. Something that at least 4 teams HAVE to do as good or better than as a bare minimum, every single year.

Pretty much this. Liverpool have had a good season. But the worship and hysteria from it makes you wish them to get humiliated over and over.

This CL final defeat was almost as good as Slippy G. The response to the loss is the best part. The petition to punish Ramos for the tackle on Salah, the abuse that Karius has gotten (YAWN right?), Klopp getting drunk after the CL final and celebrating.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I wonder if those on here who claim we had a good season cause we secured second would say otherwise about Liverpool?

 

[Chipper]

Let's also not forget that they failed (yet again) to bring home a trophy. You see people throwing the "no trophies" argument at Spurs on a daily basis around here, but for some reason or another Liverpool appear to be exempt from that obligation.

It should happen to Liverpool soon, but right now Spurs are more established and at at a more advanced stage than Liverpool. Trophies should be expected more of Spurs.

Last 9 seasons (most recent on the right):

Tottenham: 4, 5, 4, 5, 6, 5, 3, 2, 3
Liverpool: 7, 6, 8, 7, 2, 6, 8, 4, 4

So Spurs have finished ahead of them 8 out of 9 years. More recently they've qualified for the CL 3 times in a row compared to Liverpool's 2. Spurs haven't finished outside of the top 3 in those seasons and had a chance of the title when Leicester won it, whereas Liverpool got the last remaining spot in 4th both times.

 

[ZAGREB RED]

4th in the PL and beaten finalists in the CL is a pretty decent season, but if they don't build on it, then it counts for little really. I think overall you would have to say, relative to United, they had the better season.
It's debatable though, depends how you look at it. A team that constantly finishes in the top 4 and gets in the latter stages of cup competitions is having a degree of success, but for teams like Spurs and Liverpool they really need more.

 

[Ducklegs]

It was a great season for everyone who doesnt support Liverpool.

Its the hope that kills them, every, single, time.

 

[TsuWave]

they did. played exciting football and reached the CL final. they caught people's attention, and chances are players that wouldn't consider them before, will be more likely to join them now.

 

[sullydnl]

Since this time last year they've finished in a CL spot, got to the CL final, improved as a team and played some exciting football. Relatively, that's a good season.

 

[hellohello]

Played good football, reached a CL final and finished in the top 4. Yeah, a good season.

 

[Eleven-Eighteen]

Yes. Because Liverpool is comfortably a rank 6 team in the PL. For someone like that to finish in the Top 4 and also miraculously make the CL final (though rightly lose it) is a great season.

 

[Morpheus 7]

Progress yes but successful no. They didn't win anything again, you can distort it all you want but it comes down to trophies. They came 4th, had an amazing run in the champions league but were embarrassed in the final. They showed that they are average without Salah and there goalkeeper is a joke, be discussed for all the wrong reasons in years to come. Played some excellent attacking football along the way but ultimately failed, are going in the right direction though.

They were knocked out early in the other competitions and finished a point better than last season. It depends what you define as success. United had a poor season, progessed in the league but failed too. No trophies, no success.

 

[cyril C]

Liverpool had a better season than Chelsea, Arsenal, because they finished above them. Liverpool had a better season than Spurs because Spurs had nothing to fight for in final few weeks. Only Utd has a better season than Liverpool because we finished way above them, but we both had a poor final game of the season.

 

[harms]

Yes, of course. By Liverpool standards of last 30 years it wasn't even good, it was great.
They were incredibly lucky to reach the CL final, but they did, and it's quite an accomplishment.
Thank feck they lost though (and in such fashion!)

 

[charlenefan]

If their fans are happy with the season they had it's a good season

Played entertaining football - check
Had the best player in the league play for them - check
Comfortably made top 4 - check (despite what others may say they were never really in danger of dropping out due to how shit Chelsea were)
Did well in Europe - check

League position isn't the be all and end all, last season we finished 6th but winning 2/3 trophies meant our season was a hell of a lot better than Spurs' for example who finished 2nd (imo anyway)

 

[breakout67]

Liverpool had a better season than Chelsea, Arsenal, because they finished above them. Liverpool had a better season than Spurs because Spurs had nothing to fight for in final few weeks. Only Utd has a better season than Liverpool because we finished way above them, but we both had a poor final game of the season.

I would take Chelsea's season over anyone's except City. Chelsea got there because the manager has been wanting out for months and the players have disrespected the manager in public multiple times. They still got the FA cup.

If we were in Chelsea' situation, we would get another manager in who the players would want to play for, spend a truckload of money and get back into the top 4.

Fans massively overrate long term projects. When was the last time a team made 5% gains year on year on their way to Silverware? Getting into the top 4 is a dime a dozen, winning trophies is the pinnacle of a player's career and the best moments for fans. I would take a 10th place finish for a CL trophy right now.

 

[Chiken138]

For Lolerpool Standard ,yes they had

 

[cyril C]

I would take Chelsea's season over anyone's except City. Chelsea got there because the manager has been wanting out for months and the players have disrespected the manager in public multiple times. They still got the FA cup.

If we were in Chelsea' situation, we would get another manager in who the players would want to play for, spend a truckload of money and get back into the top 4.

Fans massively overrate long term projects. When was the last time a team made 5% gains year on year on their way to Silverware? Getting into the top 4 is a dime a dozen, winning trophies is the pinnacle of a player's career and the best moments for fans. I would take a 10th place finish for a CL trophy right now.

I suppose you are those die hard English fan who prefer winning FA cup even if you are relegated.

As on fans favourite manager, what a joke. Chelsea (like RM) sack their manager every 2-3 seasons, regardless of performance, like by fans, like by owner. They simply have this habit in their blood.

 

[totaalvoetbal]

It depends how you view it

As a process yes they had a great season

If you are viewing it as and end result, then no

I go with the former.

 

[breakout67]

I suppose you are those die hard English fan who prefer winning FA cup even if you are relegated.

As on fans favourite manager, what a joke. Chelsea (like RM) sack their manager every 2-3 seasons, regardless of performance, like by fans, like by owner. They simply have this habit in their blood.

Chelsea are ruthless with their managers and have fantastic player recruitment. They win trophies regularly. The same can be said for Madrid.

We are moving towards this model with hiring Ribalta and revamping our scouting network. Jose Mourinho should not be allowed to mould the future of the club, he should work within our structure and it looks as if he is doing this with incorporating Carrick and Mckenna into the coaching setup.

 

[duffer]

If you were offered 4th and a champs league final defeat next season, would you take it?

It was not a bad season by any means but for a club with Liverpool's rich history of sucesss its nothing special.