'Woodwork woe made difference'
Glen Johnson believes hitting the woodwork so often in 2011-12 could have cost Liverpool a place in the Champions League.
The right-back can't recall any other side hitting the post or crossbar so often in one campaign and feels such bad luck has been costly.
Speaking to this week's LFC Magazine, Johnson said: “I don’t remember any team in the history of football hitting the woodwork as often as we have this season. But they are the fine lines people talk about.
“What width is a post? Probably three or four inches. If the ball goes two inches more in one direction it’s probably hitting the woodwork and going in.
"With all of the shots that hit the woodwork we could have had 15 more points this season. That would have put us right up there towards the top four. But that’s football and we can’t change it now.”
Another aspect of the game that damaged the Reds' aspirations during the season was penalties.
Kenny Dalglish's men missed seven of the 11 spot-kicks they were awarded and Johnson, who tucked away from 12 yards in the Carling Cup final shoot-out, revealed that he was briefly elevated to first choice taker.
“When we played Blackburn away a few weeks ago I was on the penalties,” he said. “I’d be happy to take them. In the Chelsea game at Anfield I was joking with the lads and telling them that I was taking one if we got it.
“I don’t know why we’ve missed so many this season. Normally, if someone misses a new person has a go and then they go on a run of scoring.
"But it seems that whenever we’ve got a new taker he’s then missed. Then someone else has a go. Penalties are a part of the game where anything can happen.
"Even the best players in the world miss them. It’s not easy to explain.”
The full Glen Johnson interview is in this week's LFC magazine. Click here to subscribe>>