2011–12 Liverpool F.C. season 2011–12 Liverpool F.C. season The 2011–12 season was the 120th season in Liverpool Football Club's existence, and their 49th consecutive year in the top flight of English football. Liverpool had mixed fortunes during the season; they enjoyed success in the domestic cups, winning the League Cup for a record eighth time – also their first trophy since 2006 – and reached the FA Cup Final, where they lost to Chelsea. By virtue of winning the League Cup, Liverpool qualified for the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League. The club's league form, however, was indifferent and they finished eighth, their joint-lowest Premier League
Rafael Benítez his club's new owners had to back him in the transfer market in order for Liverpool to progress following his side's 2–1 loss to Milan in the final. It was reported Benítez did not feel he had the complete support of the new owners, a thought that was compounded by Liverpool's initial lack of activity in the transfer window, although the club played these rumours down. Benítez's spending was, eventually, significant, breaking Liverpool's transfer record when signing Spanish striker Fernando Torres from Atlético Madrid as well as signing Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun, Lucas Leiva and Andriy Voronin. Among those Benítez