Brendan Rodgers' first season with Liverpool will end trophyless after the Reds were eliminated from the Europa League by Zenit St. Petersburg, despite a 3-1 Anfield win.
Hulk gave Zenit the lead on 19 minutes for a 3-0 aggregate advantage but Suárez's free-kick - with the aid of a diabolically porous Zenit wall - and Joe Allen's first Anfield goal gave Liverpool a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Suárez then struck a superb set-piece just shy of the hour mark to elevate the optimism around Anfield.
Liverpool 3-1 Zenit
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(01 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Luis Suarez of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's third goal from a free kick during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(02 of46)
Liverpool's Luis Suarez (right) scores his sides first goal of the game from a freekick (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(03 of46)
Liverpool's Joe Allen scores his sides second goal of the game (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(04 of46)
Zenit St Petersburg's Roman Shirokov and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (right) (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(05 of46)
Liverpool's Luis Suarez (left) and Zenit St Petersburg's Igor Denisov battle for the ball (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(06 of46)
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard sits dejected (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(07 of46)
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers stands on the touchline (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(08 of46)
Liverpool's Joe Allen (left) and Steven Gerrard wait to kick off after conceding the first goal of the game (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(09 of46)
Liverpool's Joe Allen scores his sides second goal of the game (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(10 of46)
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher makes a mistake to allow Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk (left) to score (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(11 of46)
Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk celebrates scoring (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(12 of46)
Liverpool's Luis Suarez scores his side's first goal (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(13 of46)
Liverpool's Luis Suarez scores his side's first goal (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(14 of46)
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher dejected (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(15 of46)
Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk (left) and Liverpool's Lucas (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(16 of46)
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher makes a mistake to allow Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk (left) to score (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(17 of46)
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (left), Joe Allen (centre) and Jamie Carragher stand dejected after conceeding (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(18 of46)
Zenit St Petersburg's Givaldinho Hulk (right) celebrates scoring his sides first goal of the game (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Jose Enriquez, right, and Zenit St Petersburg's Axel Witsel, left, battle for the ball during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(20 of46)
Zenit St Petersburg's Givaldinho Hulk (left) scores his sides first goal of the game (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(21 of46)
Zenit St Petersburg's Carlos Luis Neto (left) and Liverpool's Luis Suarez battle for the ball (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Joe Allan left, celebrates with team-mate Lucas after he scores the second goal for his side against Zenit St Petersburg during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
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Liverpool's Joe Allan third left, celebrates with team-mate Luis Saurez, right, after he scores the second goal for his side against Zenit St Petersburg during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
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Liverpool's Luis Saurez third left, celebrates after he scores the first goal for his side against Zenit St Petersburg during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
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Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk celebrates after he scored the first goal for his side against Liverpool during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
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Liverpool's Luis Saurez second left, scores the first goal for his side against Zenit St Petersburg during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
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Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk, left celebrates with team-mate Sergei Semak after he scored the first goal for his side against Liverpool during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
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Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk left, scores the first goal for his side against Liverpool during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
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Liverpool's Luis Saurez, number 7, scores the first goal for his side against Zenit St Petersburg during their Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:AP)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(30 of46)
Zenit St Petersburg's Sergei Semak (left) and Liverpool's Stewart Downing battle for the ball (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg - Anfield(31 of46)
Zenit St Petersburg's Sergei Semak (left) and Liverpool's Stewart Downing battle for the ball (credit:PA)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(32 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Hulk of Zenit intercepts an ill timed back pass by Jamie carragher of Liverpool to score the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(33 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Jamie Carragher of Liverpool makes an ill timed back pass to allow Hulk of Zenit to score the opening oal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(34 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Hulk of Zenit charges through the liverpool defence of Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Lucas of Liverpool during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(35 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Luis Suarez of Liverpool levels the scores at 1-1 as he scores a goal from a free kick during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(36 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Joe Allen (L) of Liverpool scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(37 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Hulk (3rd L) #29 of Zenit celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(38 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Hulk (C) of Zenit celebtares with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(39 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Hulk (L) #29 of Zenit celebtares with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(40 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Hulk of Zenit charges through the Liverpool defence of Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Lucas of Liverpool during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(41 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Jamie Carragher of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(42 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Luis Suarez of Liverpool scores his team's third goal from a free kick during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(43 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Luis Suarez of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's third goal from a free kick during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(44 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Axel Witsel of Zenit goes past Jose Enrique of Liverpool during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(45 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Hulk of Zenit charges through the Liverpool defence of Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Lucas of Liverpool during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool FC v FC Zenit St Petersburg - UEFA Europa League Round of 32(46 of46)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Roman Shirokov of Zenit and Steven Gerrard of Liverpool compete for the ball during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg at Anfield on February 21, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Thereafter, Liverpool's dominance was sterile as they rarely tested Zenit goalkeeper Viacheslav Malafeev despite an upbeat Anfield crowd and could not force a winner, as they were knocked out thanks to Hulk's away goal.
The Reds must now finish in the top six of the Premier League if they are to host European football in L4 next season.