From fears of relegation to hopes for a top four finish, and from passive defensive football to pass and move thrills, the 2010-11 season almost ended perfectly for Liverpool after the rockiest of starts. But almost isn't the same as getting there, and the world rarely conspires to provide the ideal, storybook ending that might be hoped for.

It's Monday. It's September. The summer is over, with little but short days and dreary weeknights at Stoke to look forward to in the fall. Unless you're one of our five Australian readers, of course. But then you've got the local wildlife being in a 97% more killy mood to look forward to, so it's not all good.