There’s only a game to go. Only one more game before Liverpool can put this depressing campaign to sleep. But sleep might just be worse for the club.

This time last year, Liverpool were still in a title race. With one game to go, they knew that Manchester City had to lose, but they were at least still mathematically in the race. This time they’re in the same position against a 'City' - except if they win, Liverpool will qualify for the Europa League.

Lose away to Stoke City on the final day, however, and Liverpool could find themselves finish a disappointing season in 7th place. Should Aston Villa win the FA Cup, and Liverpool finish 7th, The Reds would face a season out of Europe altogether.

Then would start a dismal summer of soul-searching, manager speculation, rejections from transfer targets who want to play in Europe and the possibility of losing at least one of their best players in Raheem Sterling. Putting this season to sleep will only awaken what could turn out to be the saga of the summer - the future of Sterling.

With Liverpool out of Europe, the youngster could surely justify leaving for footballing, rather than money reasons. So could plenty of other players. And can Liverpool really tempt players of the right quality without Europe as a sales pitch?

Christian Benteke and Arturo Vidal have been mentioned as potential transfers this summer, but with Benteke’s form in helping to keep Aston Villa afloat and Vidal about to try to help his Juventus team to an historic treble in a Champions League final, it’s difficult to see either of those players settling for Liverpool in their current position should they move clubs.

It’s funny how this season has rested almost entirely on three games for Liverpool.

They started badly, yes. But they went unbeaten in the league for just over three months from December to March, bringing them right back into Champions League contention and they clawed themselves to an FA Cup semi-final, too.

But those three defeats - the FA Cup semi-final and two league losses to Champions League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal - have cost them dearly.

The fact that Liverpool performed so well for so long in their unbeaten run shows just how much momentum matters to Rodgers’ team. Last season it was that sort of momentum that took them to within a game of their first taste of Premier League glory. This time, halted in their tracks by a gleeful Manchester United and a clinical Arsenal, Liverpool’s season was totally derailed and they are simply hanging on now.

They need to start next season well to get that momentum back, and if they do they might be a force in the league again. They simply had too much to do because of their poor start this time around.

But this summer the club needs to decide what it can do to make sure they get that momentum going early next season.

Liverpool fans can’t wait to put an end to this season, but what happens after it might make even more depressing viewing. Once this season is put to bed, Liverpool might face a nightmare of a summer before things fall into place again in August. Losing out on a European spot would just intensify that.

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