The Reds concluded their 2025-2026 Premier League journey at Anfield on Sunday, needing just a single point to guarantee a top-five finish. Curtis Jones’ goal, which was later cancelled out by Kevin Schade, ultimately secured fifth place after an emotionally charged day marked by the final appearances of Robertson and Salah, concluding their illustrious careers at Liverpool.

Here is every word from Slot’s final post-match press conference of the season:

On the match, and Liverpool securing the point needed for Champions League qualification…

Once again, we did not achieve the result we deserved, which has been a recurring theme this season. We certainly merited a victory, though, in the 100th minute, we could have even lost it. We’ve witnessed this scenario so many times this campaign: we create numerous chances for a winning goal, only for the opposition to get a serious opportunity, like a header, deep into injury time. This time, it didn’t go in, but it often has this season.

So, I believe it was another match that mirrored many others we’ve played. I recall them not entering our penalty area for the first 40 minutes – perhaps a slight exaggeration, 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 extensively this season.

On the season as a whole…

Our objective today was to meet the minimum requirement: securing qualification for the Champions League. As you can see from the league standings, not all major clubs manage to qualify for the Champions League or even European competitions. In recent seasons, prominent clubs in this league have failed to secure European spots. Therefore, we can never take this accomplishment for granted, but it’s clear and evident that we aspired for more.

However, I am genuinely proud of the players and what they have achieved this season. It has been an incredibly demanding campaign for us, navigating through so many challenges, particularly with the numerous injuries we’ve faced. Despite all we’ve endured, reaching the Champions League in fifth place, and having faced the FA Cup winners after losing an away match against Manchester City – a feat many teams struggle with – and falling to Paris Saint-Germain for the second consecutive year, with no team managing to beat them in two matches over the last two years. While Chelsea did so in the Club World Cup and perhaps Arsenal in a final, no team has achieved it over two legs. So, while this isn’t what I had envisioned for our season’s outcome at the start, given everything that transpired, I am content today that we have secured Champions League qualification.

On the reception supporters gave to Robertson and Salah…

It was magnificent, as always, precisely what you would expect from our incredible fans. They wholeheartedly gave Robertson and Salah the send-off they deserved. These are two true legends who have contributed to winning nine trophies over the past nine years. So, yes, for them, it must have been a profoundly special day, likely a difficult one too, but undeniably a momentous occasion, and the fans certainly 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 unequivocally knows how to celebrate these two exceptional players.

On whether there’s anything he would have done differently throughout the season…

Oh yes, many things. I acknowledge that we were not perfect, but I would have answered that question in precisely the same way in the year we won the championship 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 based on a singular principle: being meticulously prepared. So, no decision I made was ever taken lightly, thinking, ‘Oh, I don’t have time, let’s just make a quick choice.’

No, I always gave them thorough consideration, and as you know, not all decisions can turn out to be the right ones. It would be foolish of me to sit here and claim that every decision I made was correct. But before I made them, I always genuinely believed they were the right choices at the time. However, for much of the season, 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; that has been an exception. So, if you were to ask me for one word to describe this season, I would describe it with the word ‘injury’.