'Pool cup glory

For the second successive year since Rafael Benitez took over at Anfield, Liverpool finished the campaign on a high.

After the 2005 Champions League triumph, the FA Cup was next in line. At the end of the 2005/06 season, Benitez was offered an extension to his contract, a lucrative one as he deserves.

His counterpart at Fulham, Chris Coleman, is now in his third year at Craven Cottage.

Coleman was given full support by chairman Mohamed Al Fayed who vowed to take legal action in response to persistent reports that the boss is facing the axe.

Both Al Fayed and Coleman are looking ahead for 2006/07. They are planning some potential acquisitions for a better finish.

With Coleman as manager, Fulham have kept the flag flying high at Craven Cottage despite a shoestring budget. Under the Welshman's reign, Fulham enjoyed their highest-ever top-flight finish, securing ninth placing in 2004 and ended subsequent Premiership campaigns in 13th and 12th places.

Had it not been for an appalling away record, that saw the Cottagers gathering a mere seven points - the least away tally in the Premier League - they would have ended the season in the top ten.

Yet, they were impregnable at home and only the top four sides in the standings managed to overtake their home points tally.

In front of their own fans, Fulham clipped the scalps of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea among others.

Points record

Liverpool attained their highest points total in two decades, 82, and went on to achieve record winning and clean-sheet runs as the campaign progressed. Their opening, however, was abysmal as the 'Pool only chalked up ten points from a possible 24. This was their lowest point of the season.

In Europe, Liverpool marched on to the KO phase of the Champions League but the holders fell at the next hurdle to Benfica.

A significant feat that went down well with the Liverpool fans was finishing ahead of Chelsea in the group. Also, the Reds won the UEFA Super Cup, beating CSKA Moscow 3-1 in Monaco, but later failed in their attempt to win the FIFA World Championship when they succumbed to Brazilians Sao Paolo in Yokohama.

In the league they picked themselves up and went on fine runs that led to a final third place overall.

The return of Robbie Fowler was another positive move by Benitez. Besides enjoying a great welcome from the fans at Anfield, Fowler also netted some crucial goals for the side.

One of the foreign players who sparkled throughout the season was midfielder Momo Sissoko, dubbed the new Patrick Vieira of the Premiership.

Yet, Liverpool's number one star was Steven Gerrard. He was the club's leading marksman with a total of 23 nettings. In 2005/06, Liverpool played a staggering total of 62 games at home and on the continental scene.

What was pleasing in their capture of the FA Cup was that Liverpool succeeded in eliminating the two sides that finished above them in the league - Chelsea and Manchester United. They went on to topple West Ham in an amazing FA Cup final after a shoot-out.

In the League Cup Liverpool went down to Crystal Palace in round three.

Fulham lost to West Brom at Craven Cottage in the third round of the FA Cup, the Midlands team that was walloped 6-1 in the league at the same venue.

In the FA Cup, the Londoners were defeated by Leyton Orient at home in round three.