Recently by John Aldridge

LIVERPOOL may not have won any trophies in the season just ended but they can take great consolation in the fact that they made plenty of progress this season.

Everyone picks out statistics to prove their point of view but for me the one that stands out is that Liverpool lost fewer games in the league than Manchester United.

It's a long time since that happened and you have to go back many years to the last time Liverpool only lost four games in an entire season, and that suggests to me that they are not all that far away.

RAFA BENITEZ seems to have raised a few eyebrows with his valuation of Peter Crouch this week at £15m.

But not mine. I understand Crouch's frustration at not playing as often as he wants but personally I hope he doesn't leave, and signs the new contract on offer.

Whatever happens, to say he isn't worth that sort of money in terms of ability is plain wrong.

For me, it has been a mistake to let his contract run down to the point where he has got just a year left and where in a few months time, he can sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere.

IT is great news to hear Sammy Lee seems to be heading back to Anfield.

I believe every manager needs a good number two - in my days at Tranmere Kevin Sheedy was a great asset to me - and everyone would welcome Sammy's return if it happens.

LIVERPOOL may have been beaten by Chelsea in midweek but they can take a lot of pride from their Champions League efforts this season.

There was a time when it looked like they wouldn't even make it out of the group stages but after a poor start they got stronger as the competition wore on and did really well to make it to the semi-finals.

When the draw for the last 16 was made the team to avoid was Inter Milan. Liverpool got them and beat them.

In the quarter finals they came up against Arsenal, who were many people's favourites to go on and win it -the European Cup but Liverpool beat them as well.

SO no trophies for Liverpool to play for this season but that doesn't mean their season ended on Wednesday.

There are two league games left to play and with several players playing for their futures they must be taken seriously.

Everyone knows the identity of those players who might not be around next season and it is up to them to use tomorrow's game against Man City and next week's against Spurs to stake their claim to stay at Anfield.