It wasn't just the Liverpool senior side who limped through the campaign hampered by seemingly relentless injury problems.
Across the way from the AXA Training Centre at Kirkby, the treatment room at the Academy was just as busy as many of the next generation of Reds hopefuls spent as much time on the sidelines as on the pitch.
The season was particularly testing for the under-18s, who used almost 30 different players as youngsters from the U16s were fast-tracked into the upper age group ahead of schedule.
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Such inexperience - and, it must be said, obvious lack of full physicality given the tender years - contributed to the team going more than six months without a win in the U18 Premier League North before a strong end to the campaign saw them claim an admirable top-half finish.
The rate of change is evidenced by only three players - forward Lewis Koumas, defender Terrence Miles and midfielder James McConnell - starting both the opening league 6-2 win over Middlesbrough and the 3-1 victory over Newcastle United to end the season.
"That shows how things can change quickly, but it's also the beauty of working at this age group," says U18 coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, speaking to the ECHO. "A lot of players have had a chance, even if we did end up short of numbers for some games. There haven't been many who have managed a full season without having an injury problem or two.
"It has been a really good season in terms of opportunities and boys getting a chance to play. When that happens earlier than intended, it's really important we utilise that and give them a step forward. You hope in time that, maybe next season, these lessons will come through and they can showcase what they learned."
During the long wait for victory in the league between October and April, the U18s did manage victories at Bournemouth and Port Vale in the FA Youth Cup before their run was ended in the last 16 with a 2-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.
"It was perhaps a new experience for most of the boys in the group," says Bridge-Wilkinson of the winless run. "But we played friendlies and in other competitions, so it wasn't that we went completely without winning.
"That being said, it's a situation where there were moments where you could see real development, and changes in mindset and character. The boys have developed a resilience and strength that individually they'll look back and lean on. Nobody wants to lose but sometimes winning at this age can be more than just the scoreline."
Summer signing Ben Doak started the first five games of the season for the U18s - contributing two goals and two assists - before being quickly elevated into the U21s and subsequently the first team.
It was therefore left to others to take on the attacking mantle. Lewis Koumas, a midfielder converted into a striker, scored four on the opening day against Middlesbrough and had seven in six league games before injury struck. On his return in March, the 17-year-old scored five in seven and took his league assists tally to five.
"We tried something in pre-season to play Louie as a striker," says Bridge-Wilkinson. "We spoke to Louie, got him on board and he was happy to try and play in that position. We talked about the strengths in his game and why we thought he might fit, and you have to give him an awful lot of credit because the first time he played centre forward was the week before the season started.
"His performances have been great and his understanding of the role has come on leaps and bounds. It was a shame he picked up the injury when it was a really strong period for him. But for him to then come back and hit form in such a short period was impressive."
Koumas wasn't the only breakthrough forward. Trent Kone-Doherty, brought in last summer from Derry City, was becoming established before his season was ended in March, Jaydon Danns was a regular in the second half of the season playing across the front line, while 16-year-old Keyrol Figueroa stepped up after an impressive showing in the CONCACAF U17 Championship earlier this year.
"When Louie got his injury, it meant Jaydon got a run and Figgy got more of a look-in," says Bridge-Wilkinson. "Then Figgy got injured, Jaydon continued and Louie came back. Their performances have been improving through the season. Trent was doing fantastically well, and from his point of view it has been a good start in a new club and hopefully he can continue that progress in the new season."
Michael Laffey, a 17-year-old midfielder, and Miles - who broke into the U21s - played the most league minutes after goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek, while McConnell was impressive in the engine room when available. And Bridge-Wilkinson is hopeful any pain suffered this season by using so many younger players can become a gain in terms of valuable experience going into the new campaign.
"There are quite a few U16s who have been involved in the 18s programme," he says. "Hopefully next season they can step up and already understand certain parts and we don't have to go through it again. They start further along the line."
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