Liverpool: 7 Worse Things Than Finishing Below Everton in the Table

To cap off a lacklustre season, to put the icing on the proverbial cake, Liverpool fans were delighted to hear the news that hated rivals Everton finished one place above them in the Premier League standings, I said with heavy sarcasm and bitterness. 

Yes, this season did not go as planned for the Red side of Merseyside, but Everton finishing above Liverpool was the last nail in the coffin for Kenny Dalglish's side.

Well, as we are about to explore, it could have been a lot worse.

Here are seven worse things that could have happened for Liverpool this season. 

7. Finishing Just Above Above the Drop Zone

If some of the draws didn't go Liverpool's way this season, one of England's most storied clubs could have been flirting with relegation.

As scary as a thought that is, I don't think that this was a serious threat.

It just would have been way, way worse than finishing a single spot behind Everton. A couple of dropped points and it easily could have been two or three more spots. 

Yikes.

6. Manchester United Winning the Title

For decades, Liverpool could take solace in the fact that, no matter how the club did each season, it was the most successful club in English football history, in terms of league titles.

Last season, that bragging right was taken away from us as Manchester United won its 19th top-division title, surpassing Liverpool's 18. 

As the club is seemingly facing another rebuilding season, Liverpool fans would not have been able to handle being in a two-trophy hole. 

Not to mention the unbearable taunts from United fans. 

5. Losing the Carling Cup

Liverpool easily could have lost the Carling Cup final to Cardiff at many points during the game, especially as it came to down to penalties, that cruel mistress of the footballing world. 

Liverpool looked uneasy throughout the match, going 1-0 down 20 minutes in, and failing to equalize until the 60th minute. 

Allowing a goal with two minutes left in stoppage time, two minutes away from clinching the first trophy for the club in six years, was unthinkable. 

I'll come out and say it: Liverpool was lucky to come away with the eventual win (thanks, Anthony Gerrard).

However, a cup is a cup, and if Liverpool hadn't won, it would have meant...

4. Missing out on European Football

Look at how much fun Atletico Madrid is having after winning the Europa League for the second time in three years. 

Many view the tournament as soft, but for Liverpool, it not only represents an opportunity to begin to establish themselves as European powerhouses again, but also as a selling point for potential transfer targets. 

Players such as Gaston Ramirez and Clint Dempsey won't be playing in Europe next season, so Liverpool management may be able to use the club's inclusion in the international club competition as a bargaining chip to persuade these players and others to come to Anfield.

3. Lucas' Injury Ends Up Being Career-Ending

In December, Liverpool fans got some of the worst news they could have heard all season.

Lucas, the 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder, was ruled out for the rest of the season with damage to his anterior cruciate ligament. 

Lucas had easily been Liverpool's best player thus far in the season, and it was evident for the rest of the year that the club had absolutely no idea how to replace him. 

However, Lucas has vowed to come back stronger next season, so we can only hope that carries on in his fine vein of form. 

Thank your lucky stars he is okay.

2. Kenny Dalglish Is Still Manager

I know there's a possibility I might split the camp on this one, but I don't think King Kenny was the man to turn the fortunes of Liverpool Football Club around.

He did exactly what he was supposed to do: pull Liverpool out of the quagmire that Roy Hodgson had created.

King Kenny recreated the vibrant atmosphere that made Anfield a fortress, but as the season went on and results were lacking, the cheering turned to grumbles. 

Coupled with the fact that his and ex-Director of Football Damien Comolli's "moneyball" approach didn't exactly pan out, and it became just a matter of time as to when Dalglish would be gone. 

Liverpool needed a new manager—just please don't bring Rafa back.

1. Finishing Below Tranmere Rovers

Please, God.

Don't ever let this day come. 

I know you're a Liverpool fan deep down.