Liverpool strived to qualify for Europe but fell short after finishing seventh in the Premier League, one better than last season.

Londoners Fulham regressed after their eighth placing last term. The Cottagers were more concerned about retaining their Premier League status.

Fulham manager Martin Jol was glad to remain on the gravy train after his team finished 12th − seven points above the relegated trio.

Owners Fenway Sports Group have been delighted with the impact of manager Brendan Rodgers (ex-Swansea City) at Liverpool.

Chairman Tom Werner believes Liverpool are well-placed to improve next term after a strong performance in the second half of the season.

Werner described Rodgers as a great strategist who has shown strong leadership skills during the season.

“Obviously there is disappointment that we didn’t finish higher in the table but the team has certainly improved as the season has gone on,” Werner was quoted as saying.

“To see the new additions in January, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, perform so well has been very positive.

“We scored a lot more goals than last season. The 38 away league goals was the club’s highest number in a season since 1990.”

The Liverpool fans bid an emotional farewell to Jamie Carragher, the team’s vice-captain who retired after making a record number of appearances for the club.

Rodgers was certainly not starved of cash by Liverpool’s owners.

The future of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez is still uncertain but Liverpool’s improving perfor-mances towards the end of the season should have boosted Rodgers’s optimism that they can develop further with the right investment this summer.

Berbatov capture

Jol, the Fulham manager, caused a surprise with his capture of Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, considered one of the best signings last summer.

The Cottagers’ last-day victory at Swansea ended a run of seven games without a win but there was plenty of speculation over Jol’s position. He must convince owner Mohamed Al Fayed that he is the man to take Fulham forward.

Fulham’s win against Swansea lifted them from 15th to 12th in the standings, earning the west London club an additional £2.25 million for their final position on merit, based on last season’s figures.

At the end of the season, Jol dismissed speculation that he will leave Fulham this summer.

In the League Cup, Fulham were knocked out in the early rounds after losing 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday at Craven Cottage.

After eliminating Blackpool in an FA Cup replay, the Londoners lost 4-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

In the same competition, Liverpool suffered a surprise defeat to League One club Oldham.

Swansea shattered the Reds’ chances of progressing beyond the fourth round in the League Cup with a 3-1 win at Anfield.

In the Europa League, Liverpool qualified from the group stage but lost to Zenit St Petersburg on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate draw (home 3-1).

2012-13 Premier League results

Fulham

August − Home vs Norwich 5-0 (Duff, Petric 2, Kacaniklik, Sidwell pen).
Away vs Manchester United 2-3 (Duff, Vidic og).
September − Away vs West Ham 0-3.
Home vs West Brom 3-0 (Berbatov 2, 1 pen, Sidwell).
Away vs Wigan 2-1 (Rodallega, Duff).
Home vs Manchester City 1-2 (Petric pen).
October − Away vs Southampton 2-2 (Hooiveld og, Richardson).
Home vs Aston Villa 1-0 (Baird).
Away vs Reading 3-3 (Ruiz, Baird, Berbatov).
November − Home vs Everton 2-2 (Howard og, Sidwell).
Away vs Arsenal 3-3 (Berbatov 2, 1 pen, Kacaniklik).
Home vs Sunderland 1-3 (Petric).
Away vs Stoke 0-1.
Away vs Chelsea 0-0.
December − Home vs Tottenham 0-3.
Home vs Newcastle 2-1 (Sidwell, Rodallega).
Away vs Queens Park Rangers 1-2 (Petric).
Away vs Liverpool 0-4.
Home vs Southampton 1-1 (Berbatov).
Home vs Swansea 1-2 (Ruiz).
January − Away vs West Brom 2-1 (Berbatov, Kacaniklik).
Home vs Wigan 1-1 (Karagounis).
Away vs Manchester City 0-2.
Home vs West Ham 3-1 (Berbatov, Rodallega, O’Brien og).
February − Home vs Manchester United 0-1.
Away vs Norwich 0-0.
Home vs Stoke 1-0 (Berbatov).
March − Away vs Sunderland 2-2 (Berbatov pen, Riether).
Away vs Tottenham 1-0 (Berbatov).
April − Home vs QPR 3-2 (Berbatov 2, 1 pen, Hill og).
Away vs Newcastle 0-1.
Home vs Chelsea 0-3.
Away vs Aston Villa 1-1 (Delph og).
Home vs Arsenal 0-1.
Away vs Everton 0-1.
May − Home vs Reading 2-4 (Ruiz 2).
Home vs Liverpool 1-3 (Berbatov).
Away vs Swansea 3-0 (Kacaniklik, Berbatov, Emanuelson).

Liverpool

August − Away vs West Brom 0-3.
Home vs Manchester City 2-2 (Skrtel, Suarez).
September − Home vs Arsenal 0-2.
Away vs Sunderland 1-1 (Suarez).
Home vs Manchester United 1-2 (Gerrard).
Away vs Norwich 5-2 (Suarez 3, Sahin, Gerrard).
October − Home vs Stoke 0-0.
Home vs Reading 1-0 (Sterling).
Away vs Everton 2-2 (Baines og, Suarez).
November − Home vs Newcastle 1-1 (Suarez).
Away vs Chelsea 1-1 (Suarez).
Home vs Wigan 3-0 (Suarez 2, Enrique).
Away vs Swansea 0-0.
Away vs Tottenham 1-2 (Bale og).
December − Home vs Southampton 1-0 (Agger).
Away vs West Ham 3-2 (Johnson, Cole, Collins og).
Home vs Aston Villa 1-3 (Gerrard).
Home vs Fulham 4-0 (Skrtel, Gerrard, Downing, Suarez).
Away vs Stoke 1-3 (Gerrard pen).
Away vs Queens Park Rangers 3-0 (Suarez 2, Agger).
January − Home vs Sunderland 3-0 (Suarez 2, Sterling).
Away vs Manchester United 1-2 (Sturridge).
Home vs Norwich 5-0 (Henderson, Suarez, Sturridge, Gerrard, Bennett og).
Away vs Arsenal 2-2 (Suarez, Henderson).
February − Away vs Manchester City 2-2 (Sturridge, Gerrard).
Home vs West Brom 0-2.
Home vs Swansea 5-0 (Gerrard pen, Coutinho, Enriquez, Suarez, Sturridge pen).
March − Away vs Wigan 4-0 (Suarez 3, Downing).
Home vs Tottenham 3-2 (Suarez, Downing, Gerrard pen).
Away vs Southampton 1-3 (Coutinho).
Away vs Aston Villa 2-1 (Henderson, Gerrard pen).
April − Home vs West Ham 0-0.
Away vs Reading 0-0.
Home vs Chelsea 2-2 (Sturridge, Suarez).
Away vs Newcastle 6-0 (Agger, Henderson 2, Sturridge 2, Borini).
May − Home vs Everton 0-0.
Away vs Fulham 3-1 (Sturridge 3).
Home vs QPR 1-0 (Coutinho).