28 REASONS WHY REDS SHOULD BE PROUD

	We all know first place is everything at Anfield, but despite missing out on the Barclays Premier League by the slenderest of margins there are still plenty of reasons why we can look back with pride on our 2008-09 campaign.
Whether it be amassing a record points total, leading the goalscoring charts, enjoying our best away form for over one hundred years or completing memorable league doubles over both Manchester United and Chelsea, the past nine months have provided numerous reasons why we can look forward to the new campaign with hopes and expectations high. We may not have ended the season as champions of England this time - but here are 28 reasons why we should feel positive when reflecting on the latest season in our glorious history. The Reds amassed their highest points total ever in the Premier League (86) beating the 82 set in 2005-06. It is our highest in the league since 1987-88. The total of 86 points is more than we needed to clinch 12 of our 18 league titles (all seasons based on three points for a win). We won 14 points against the other members of the ‘Big Four’. It was as many points as we had won against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in the previous three seasons put together. Liverpool scored 77 league goals this season – our best since 1990-91 when we also scored 77, and finished second in the title race to Arsenal. 16 players scored in the league this season – one fewer than the club record set in 1911-12. We finished the campaign with a goal difference of +50 - our best for 21 years when we amassed +63 in 1987-88. The Reds went through a league campaign at Anfield undefeated for the 10th time in their history and for the first time since 1987-88. We extended our unbeaten run of league games at home to 30 – the best run for 28 years and equalled the fourth best sequence in our history. We amassed seven more points than when we last won the title in 1989-90 (then it was 79). We equalled the club record set in 1904-05 by winning 13 away league games. Liverpool amassed 43 away points this season - the most in our history. We finished the season averaging 2.26 points per game – the second best ever average in our 94 seasons in the top-flight. The best is 2.33 points in 1978-79 (98 points from 42 games based on 3 pts for a win). We scored at least three goals in five successive league games for the first time since 1987. And we netted at least three goals in six successive games in all competitions for the first time in the club’s history. We only lost two league games this season - our best record since 1987-88 when we also lost twice. That season we drew 12 games but still won the title by nine points from Manchester United. We became the first team ever to lose only two games in a season and not go on to win the league. Chelsea in 2007-08, 2006-07 and Nottingham Forest 1978-79 were all runners-up having lost three games. Liverpool ended Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten home record with a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. We recorded the club's first league ‘double’ over Chelsea for 19 years. A Yossi Benayoun goal ensured we became only the second English team to win in the Bernabeu. And at Anfield we inflicted upon Real Madrid their biggest ever Champions League defeat as we went goal crazy with a 4-0 win. Overall we sent Madrid crashing to their heaviest two-legged European defeat in the knockout stages for 20 years. We recorded our biggest win at Old Trafford for 72 years. It was also the first time four Liverpool players had scored at United in the same game. Rafael Benitez broke Bill Shankly’s record of 65 European matches as Liverpool manager. The boss also broke Bob Paisley’s record of 40 European wins. Rafa recorded his 100th league win as manager in his 181st game. It was the 3rd quickest ever by a Liverpool manager and 50 games faster than Alex Ferguson. Liverpool have lost only six league games in total in the last two seasons. Manchester United have lost nine. Arsenal have also lost nine and Chelsea eight. Liverpool finished the season as leading scorers in the Premier League. They scored 77 compared to Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, who all scored 68. The Reds boast the highest goals per game average of any team in all four divisions in England (1.93 goals per game) and will finish the season as such unless one of the following happens – Manchester United score nine in the Champions League Final or Chelsea score six in the F.A. Cup Final.