She ran her heart out, just like always, but as has increasingly been the case for Fionnuala McCormack at the European Cross Country, it just wasn’t enough.

A scintillating display of football from Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’ saw Jurgen Klopp’s side blaze their way into the Champions League knockout phase with a 7-0 victory over Spartak Moscow.

Fernando Torres is eyeing a return to the Premier League and could be interested in signing for Newcastle or Southampton.

Maribor 0 - Liverpool 7: Liverpool finally found their form in front of goal in a record-breaking 7-0 European away victory against hapless Maribor to finally kick-start their Champions League campaign.

MAN CITY 5 -LIVERPOOL 0: Jurgen Klopp claims neither Manchester City nor Liverpool should read too much into the 5-0 battering his side took at the Etihad Stadium.

Patrick Vieira sees no reason for Arsene Wenger to leave Arsenal and has accused critics of the Gunners boss of having short memories.

Liverpool 4  Arsenal 0

Liverpool 4 Hoffenheim 2 (Liverpool win 6-3 on agg): Liverpool overpowered Hoffenheim 4-2 at Anfield to ease into the Champions League group stages with a 6-3 aggregate play-off victory last night.

Teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold enjoyed an extra-special European debut with a brilliant free-kick to set Liverpool on their way to a 2-1 victory in their Champions League play-off first leg against Hoffenheim.

It’s hard to know which subject Jurgen Klopp found more wearing to discuss; the future of Philippe Coutinho or the reprise of his Liverpool side’s familiar defensive failings.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp finally has his full squad to work with after forwards Sadio Mane and Danny Ings joined team training together with returning midfielder Emre Can.

Liverpool 3 Middlesbrough 0: When the two minutes of injury-time were up, Jurgen Klopp stood slowly, grinned, hugged every man on the Liverpool bench, and then went and casually but earnestly shook the hand of Steve Agnew, the Middlesbrough caretaker manager.

Liverpool vice-captain James Milner apologised to his team-mates after his penalty miss cost the side victory against Southampton.

So one week everything goes your way, the next week nothing does. C’est la vie, say the old folks.

A moment of magic from Emre Can illuminated an otherwise poor quality game and fired Liverpool a huge stride closer to securing Champions League football next season.

Sam Allardyce toasted another unexpected scalp for Crystal Palace by claiming his tactics “exposed Liverpool’s weaknesses time and time again” at Anfield.

Liverpool 2 Bournemouth 2: Divock Origi provided the proof that Liverpool can prosper in attack without Sadio Mane. The problem for manager Jurgen Klopp is that his team remain so vulnerable defensively.

Liverpool 2 Burnley 1: With one casual, but extremely accurate, swing of his right boot, Emre Can settled this unpredictable game and possibly shifted the momentum of Liverpool’s troublingly inconsistent season.

Liverpool central defender Joel Matip is struggling to be fit for the visit of Stoke after missing the last two matches with an ankle injury.

Fionnuala McCormack will have to overcome her Turkish nemesis at the European Cross Country Championships in Chia, Italy, tomorrow.

Bournemouth 4 Liverpool 3

Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake's stoppage-time goal secured Bournemouth their first-ever win over Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp's side capitulated to lose ground on the Blues in the Premier League title race.

Liverpool 2 Leeds 0: Ben Woodburn had a grin as big as the Mersey as he left the pitch, the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s long and illustrious history.

Crystal Palace 2 Liverpool 4: Liverpool as champions? Dejan Lovren admitted the victory at Selhurst Park supported the case both for and against the title returning to Anfield for the first time since 1990.

Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane fired Liverpool to victory over West Brom but a late defensive lapse cost them the chance to go top of the Premier League.

An injury to Emre Can threatened to sour Liverpool's evening following a comprehensive EFL Cup win at Burton but Reds boss Jurgen Klopp allayed fears over the midfielder.

Many times in her career, Fionnuala McCormack has had to grin and bear as she dealt with the bitter taste of fourth place at a major championships, but this time it was clear she had enough.

Liverpool 1 Tottenham 1: IT may have done little for their chances of winning the 2016 league title, but this Anfield performance yet again proved Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that his Tottenham side can be a force for years to come.

It may only have been the Europa League, but Liverpool fans didn’t care on a memorable night at Anfield as they beat bitter rivals Manchester United.

Liverpool 3 Manchester City 0: John Lennon’s ‘Instant Karma’ was played before kick-off and Liverpool delivered it with a perfect response to their Capital One Cup final defeat at the weekend.

Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 6: Remi Garde lamented the lack of fight in his Aston Villa side after Liverpool ran riot in a Valentine’s Day massacre at Villa Park.

Liverpool 2 Sunderland 2: Note to Liverpool’s players — the walkout was meant for the fans, not the first team.