Liverpool entered Sunday’s Premier League finale at Anfield needing just a single point to guarantee a top-five finish. The crucial equalizer from Curtis Jones shortly before the hour mark, which ultimately cancelled out Kevin Schade’s opener, ensured the Reds clinched fifth place. This pivotal result unfolded on an emotionally charged day, as Robertson and Salah made their final appearances for Liverpool, bringing illustrious careers at the club to a close.

Below is a comprehensive account of Slot’s post-match press conference, marking the conclusion of the season’s media duties.

on securing champions league football

“Once again, we didn’t quite get the result we truly deserved, which has been a recurring theme throughout this season. We certainly merited a win today, though, in the 100th minute, we could have even lost it. We’ve witnessed this scenario so many times this campaign: creating numerous chances to score a winning goal, only for the opposition to get a serious opportunity in injury time – a header this time. Thankfully, it didn’t go in on this occasion, but it has too often this season.

“So, I believe it was another match that mirrored many we’ve played. It felt like it took them 40 minutes to even enter our penalty area for the first time. Perhaps I’m exaggerating slightly, but we completely dominated the first half. Yet, from a simple throw-in, they created their first real chance. And yes, set pieces have been another topic we’ve discussed frequently this season.”

on the season as a whole

“We came here today to achieve the bare minimum, and that minimum requirement was to qualify for the Champions League. As you can see from the league table, even major clubs sometimes fail to secure Champions League or even European qualification. We can never take this for granted, but it’s clear and obvious that we had aimed for more. Nevertheless, I am genuinely proud of the players and what they accomplished this season, as it has been a very, very challenging campaign for us, considering everything we’ve had to contend with, particularly the numerous injuries.

“But if the ultimate outcome is to secure Champions League football, finishing in fifth place, and having faced FA Cup winners after losing an away match to Manchester City – something many teams do. Losing to Paris Saint-Germain for the second consecutive year, with no team managing to beat them over two legs in the last two years. In a single match, Chelsea did so in the Club World Cup and perhaps Arsenal in a final, but over two legs, no team has achieved it. So, while it’s not what I would have wished for us to achieve this season before it began, given all the adversity we faced, I am pleased today that we have qualified for the Champions League.”

on the reception for robertson and salah

“It was magnificent, as always, exactly what you expect from our supporters. They absolutely gave them the send-off they deserved. Two true legends who have lifted nine trophies over the past nine years. So, yes, for them, it must have been a truly special day, likely a difficult one too, but certainly special, and the fans made it unforgettable for them. I believe I’ve said it many times: this club understands how to celebrate a league title, this club knows how to navigate tragedies, and this club certainly knows how to honor these two incredible players.”

on potential changes throughout the season

“Oh yes, many things. I, and we, haven’t been perfect, but I would have answered that question in precisely the same way in the year we won the league because, as a manager, you can never be perfect, and a player can never be perfect. However, every decision I made throughout the season was driven by a single principle: being thoroughly prepared. So, none of my decisions were ever made with the thought, ‘Oh, I don’t have time, let’s just make a snap decision.’

“No, I gave them considerable thought, and as you know, not every decision can turn out to be the right one. It would be foolish of me to sit here and claim every decision I made was perfect. But before I made them, I always believed they were the correct course of action. Most of the time, though, I didn’t even have the luxury of making many decisions or choices because this [match] was perhaps the first time this season that there wasn’t a single Academy player on our bench, which has been a rare exception. So, if you asked me for one word to describe this season, it would undoubtedly be ‘injury’.”