Hansen: We can be optimistic
Alan Hansen believes Liverpool can draw positives from this season and use them towards mounting a challenge for a Champions League berth in 2012-13.
The Anfield legend feels the Reds haven't achieved the points tally their play has deserved at times this season, but he's confident Kenny Dalglish's men can rectify that next term.
Hansen told Liverpoolfc.tv: "The positives are we know on our day, we have a team that can beat anybody. We have shown and proven that.
"We've dominated matches, but the goals return hasn't been good enough. Goals win you matches.
"I've always said you need to have a foundation defensively, and I think we've got that. We've got a lot of good players and the way we played against Chelsea (on Tuesday) with a high tempo, we've played like that a lot of times at home this season but just never got the rewards."
Liverpool have endured a frustrating campaign in front of goal, hitting the woodwork more than any other side in the Barclays Premier League.
However, Hansen feels the Reds' overall level of performance has been impressive.
"We have been unlucky - there is no doubt about it," he added.
"We have hit the woodwork more than any other side, we've dominated matches and even away from home against the likes of Fulham and QPR you were thinking, 'There's no way we'll get beat here' and then we've ended up with no points.
"We've had two or three bad performances - and every team has two or three bad performances during the course of a season - but generally we've played pretty well. We've attacked teams and dominated games."
Liverpool made seven major signings last summer and Hansen is confident they will benefit from the experience of having a year at Anfield under their belts by the time the new season starts.
And, in addition, Jockey reckons the recent form of Andy Carroll is another positive to be taken.
"There are enough positives for Kenny to take into next year," said Hansen. "It's always hard to integrate five, six or seven players in the first season.
"Other teams have shown that - to get that level of personnel into your first team, integrate them and get them playing together is always exceptionally difficult. So for the new players who came in, I think the second season will be a lot better.
"Andy Carroll has shown in not just the last two games, but for the last five or six matches just what a good player he is.
"People have said he's been unplayable. We saw him play like that at Newcastle and that augurs well for next season too.
"We can be optimistic about next season."