RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Liverpool’s travel sickness was encapsulated on a forgettable afternoon at the KC Stadium.

Benitez’s men must begin next season in July after they were held to a low-key goalless draw by relegated Hull City.

It meant Liverpool were unable to leapfrog Aston Villa into sixth place, despite being handed the opportunity by the Midlanders losing at home to Blackburn Rovers.

The Anfield outfit won only five of 19 games on their Premier League travels this campaign while scoring only 18 goals – one less than Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And Benitez admits it has been a major shortcoming.

“I think you could see we were trying to win, sometimes you can’t,” said the Spaniard. “We had chances, we could have won at the end but it has been a special season with a lot of things against us. Today we had three or four chances and couldn’t take them.

“This has summed up our season on the road. Last year we were really, really good, but this season has been a big difference. We haven’t scored enough goals and we haven’t been able to win game.”

Liverpool will now enter the Europa League at the third qualifying round, the first leg of which takes place on July 29 – less than three weeks after the World Cup final.

And Benitez accepts it is not the ideal preparation for the new Premier League campaign and will impact on Liverpool’s pre-season plans.