Liverpool's hopes of a top six finish were dashed as they brought the 2009-10 campaign to an end with a disappointing 0-0 draw at relegated Hull City on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds dominated for long spells but couldn't find the breakthrough as Alberto Aquilani, Daniel Agger and Nabil El Zhar all spurned good chances, while Steven Gerrard hit the post late on.
It means Rafael Benitez's men finish the season in seventh place, with the prospect of a Europa League qualifier in July looming on the horizon.
The stalemate did hold some significance, however, with Jack Robinson coming off the bench to become the youngest Liverpool player in history at the age of 16 years and 250 days.
The Academy starlet replaced Ryan Babel with four minutes remaining to begin what will hopefully be a bright future.
Ahead of the encounter in Humberside, the boss opted to make two changes to the team that lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea, with El Zhar making his first start of the season and Babel coming in for the injured Maxi Rodriguez.
But it was perhaps the substitutes's bench that stole the pre-match limelight, with Martin Skrtel making his long awaited return from injury, while Robinson was hoping to make his own little bit of LFC history.
Many observers had suggested it was an end of season contest with little to play for, but with Pepe Reina still in the running for the Golden Glove award and the prospect of leapfrogging Aston Villa into sixth place, there was incentive enough for Liverpool to make the more promising start.
Some superb link up between Aquilani, Babel and Gerrard saw the skipper stretch his legs into the Hull area and angle a pass towards Dirk Kuyt, who was just a few yards away from collecting and having a free shot at goal.
It set the tone for a period of Reds dominance and on six minutes they could so easily have been ahead. Tom Cainey desperately tried to intercept Babel's searching pass, stretching out a leg that saw the ball loop over Tigers stopper Matt Duke and fly inches wide of the post.
It was a lucky escape for the home side who were keen to sign off their time in the Barclays Premier League with a notable scalp. However, it was the visitors who continued to look the more likely with Aquilani fizzing a few yards off target with a speculative 25 yarder.
El Zhar was then a fingertip away from capping his promotion to the starting XI with a goal, lashing a superb shot towards the top corner that Duke did brilliantly to keep out.
From the resulting corner Liverpool came even closer, as El Zhar's miscued strike was flicked goalwards by Kuyt, only for George Boateng to head off the line.
It had been a one-sided first-half, but after Aquilani dragged just wide of the far post, Hull almost snatched the lead. A free-kick was launched into the Reds' area, ending with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink nodding a tame effort into the grateful arms of Reina.
It seemed to inspire Iain Dowie's men and they would miss two more gilt-edged opportunities just after the half hour mark.
Javier Mascherano lost possession deep inside Liverpool territory and after a miss-hit shot deflected into Mark Cullen's path, the striker somehow contrived to step on the ball and fail to convert from just six yards out.
And the 18-year-old had his head in his hands less than a minute later when he glanced a free header wide of the far post after Will Atkinson's superb cross from the right.
Liverpool could count themselves very fortunate not to have fallen behind, but they should have taken the lead on 45 minutes when some woeful Hull defending saw the ball drop to Aquilani 10 yards from goal. The Italian composed himself and drilled in a shot that cannoned back off the crossbar, with Daniel Agger lashing the rebound way over the top.
A look at the half-time scores suggested that the title was well on its way to Stamford Bridge, while Villa's inability to breakdown Blackburn's stubborn rearguard meant a Reds goal would give them the advantage in the battle for sixth.
However, it was Hull who started the second period on top and they should have broken the deadlock on 51 minutes. Bernard Mendy teased a cross in from the right that Vennegoor of Hesselink and Cairney both came within a whisker of converting.
Next it was Mendy's turn to go close, firing in a 40 yard free-kick that Reina did well to tip over the top. The Spanish stopper had gone into the clash hoping to secure a fourth Golden Glove award in just five seasons, but with Cech a virtual bystander in Chelsea's rout of Wigan, the No. 25 would eventually have to share the gong.
At the other end, Liverpool had faded as an attacking force and as the final moments approached, the best they had mustered was a poor effort from Aquilani.
With time running out Gerrard almost snatched a victory, hitting a low shot just wide before going even closer with a drive that smashed back off the post.
The Reds dominated for long spells but couldn't find the breakthrough as Alberto Aquilani, Daniel Agger and Nabil El Zhar all spurned good chances, while Steven Gerrard hit the post late on.
It means Rafael Benitez's men finish the season in seventh place, with the prospect of a Europa League qualifier in July looming on the horizon.
The stalemate did hold some significance, however, with Jack Robinson coming off the bench to become the youngest Liverpool player in history at the age of 16 years and 250 days.
The Academy starlet replaced Ryan Babel with four minutes remaining to begin what will hopefully be a bright future.
Ahead of the encounter in Humberside, the boss opted to make two changes to the team that lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea, with El Zhar making his first start of the season and Babel coming in for the injured Maxi Rodriguez.
But it was perhaps the substitutes's bench that stole the pre-match limelight, with Martin Skrtel making his long awaited return from injury, while Robinson was hoping to make his own little bit of LFC history.
Many observers had suggested it was an end of season contest with little to play for, but with Pepe Reina still in the running for the Golden Glove award and the prospect of leapfrogging Aston Villa into sixth place, there was incentive enough for Liverpool to make the more promising start.
Some superb link up between Aquilani, Babel and Gerrard saw the skipper stretch his legs into the Hull area and angle a pass towards Dirk Kuyt, who was just a few yards away from collecting and having a free shot at goal.
It set the tone for a period of Reds dominance and on six minutes they could so easily have been ahead. Tom Cainey desperately tried to intercept Babel's searching pass, stretching out a leg that saw the ball loop over Tigers stopper Matt Duke and fly inches wide of the post.
It was a lucky escape for the home side who were keen to sign off their time in the Barclays Premier League with a notable scalp. However, it was the visitors who continued to look the more likely with Aquilani fizzing a few yards off target with a speculative 25 yarder.
El Zhar was then a fingertip away from capping his promotion to the starting XI with a goal, lashing a superb shot towards the top corner that Duke did brilliantly to keep out.
From the resulting corner Liverpool came even closer, as El Zhar's miscued strike was flicked goalwards by Kuyt, only for George Boateng to head off the line.
It had been a one-sided first-half, but after Aquilani dragged just wide of the far post, Hull almost snatched the lead. A free-kick was launched into the Reds' area, ending with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink nodding a tame effort into the grateful arms of Reina.
It seemed to inspire Iain Dowie's men and they would miss two more gilt-edged opportunities just after the half hour mark.
Javier Mascherano lost possession deep inside Liverpool territory and after a miss-hit shot deflected into Mark Cullen's path, the striker somehow contrived to step on the ball and fail to convert from just six yards out.
And the 18-year-old had his head in his hands less than a minute later when he glanced a free header wide of the far post after Will Atkinson's superb cross from the right.
Liverpool could count themselves very fortunate not to have fallen behind, but they should have taken the lead on 45 minutes when some woeful Hull defending saw the ball drop to Aquilani 10 yards from goal. The Italian composed himself and drilled in a shot that cannoned back off the crossbar, with Daniel Agger lashing the rebound way over the top.
A look at the half-time scores suggested that the title was well on its way to Stamford Bridge, while Villa's inability to breakdown Blackburn's stubborn rearguard meant a Reds goal would give them the advantage in the battle for sixth.
However, it was Hull who started the second period on top and they should have broken the deadlock on 51 minutes. Bernard Mendy teased a cross in from the right that Vennegoor of Hesselink and Cairney both came within a whisker of converting.
Next it was Mendy's turn to go close, firing in a 40 yard free-kick that Reina did well to tip over the top. The Spanish stopper had gone into the clash hoping to secure a fourth Golden Glove award in just five seasons, but with Cech a virtual bystander in Chelsea's rout of Wigan, the No. 25 would eventually have to share the gong.
At the other end, Liverpool had faded as an attacking force and as the final moments approached, the best they had mustered was a poor effort from Aquilani.
With time running out Gerrard almost snatched a victory, hitting a low shot just wide before going even closer with a drive that smashed back off the post.
