Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side “will absolutely be a contender again” as the Reds’ largely miserable season ended with a 4-4 draw at bottom club Southampton.
Liverpool were chasing a quadruple last term, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup but finishing one point behind champions Manchester City and losing the Champions League final.
This campaign the Reds finished fifth – despite being unbeaten in their final 11 matches – and will not be playing in the Champions League next season for the first time since 2016-17.
“There were moments during this season where you thought it [the struggle] would be four years long,” said Klopp.
“Imagine if we were our normal self [earlier in the season], which we absolutely will be next season and we will be a contender again.
“The last 11 games helped us to realise that again.”
Against the relegated Saints, Liverpool opened the scoring through Diogo Jota when he punished Romeo Lavia’s poor pass before Roberto Firmino made it 2-0 as he scored in his final match for the Reds.
The Saints pulled a goal back through James Ward-Prowse and were level in the 28th minute when Kamaldeen Sulemana netted his first goal for the club.
Sulemana completed the turnaround just after half-time and Adam Armstrong put the hosts 4-2 up in the 64th minute.
But Liverpool responded with Cody Gakpo’s 72nd-minute tap-in, and Jota levelled maters with his second a minute later.
Mohamed Salah hit the post for Liverpool in the final 15 minutes with a lobbed effort, but neither side was able to find a winner in a hugely entertaining match.
‘We can compete at this level’ – Selles
Southampton manager Ruben Selles believes his side’s draw proves they are ready to “bounce back quick” from the Championship.
Southampton’s relegation after 11 years in the Premier League was confirmed on 13 May after a 2-0 loss to Fulham.
The Saints have had a torrid season but departed the top flight on a positive note, ending a five-match losing run.
“We just want to make sure that we can show once again we are ready to compete at this level,” Selles, whose finished 20th, 11 points off Premier League safety, told BBC Sport.
“Events will take us away from the Premier League but this team is ready to bounce back quick.”
Captain Ward-Prowse, whose future with the Hampshire club remains in doubt, was given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 87th minute.
Theo Walcott, who announced he would be leaving the Saints earlier on Sunday, was also given a warm reception by the home fans.
Firmino netted on his final appearance for Liverpool. The Brazilian is departing the Anfield club along with England midfielder James Milner.
Player of the match
Roberto FirminoRoberto Firmino
Southampton
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Squad number20Player nameSulemana
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Squad number9Player nameA Armstrong
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Squad number53Player nameBallard
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Squad number21Player nameLivramento
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Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse
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Squad number26Player nameAlcaraz
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Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
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Squad number75Player nameAmo-Ameyaw
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Squad number45Player nameLavia
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Squad number32Player nameWalcott
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Squad number2Player nameWalker-Peters
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Squad number4Player nameLyanco
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Squad number35Player nameBednarek
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Squad number14Player nameBree
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Squad number1Player nameMcCarthy
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Squad number24Player nameElyounoussi
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McCarthy
- 14Bree
- 35Bednarek
- 4Lyanco
- 2Walker-Peters
- 8Ward-ProwseSubstituted forAmo-Ameyawat 87′minutes
- 45LaviaSubstituted forA Armstrongat 63′minutes
- 32WalcottSubstituted forLivramentoat 77′minutes
- 26Alcaraz
- 24ElyounoussiSubstituted forS Armstrongat 64′minutes
- 20SulemanaSubstituted forBallardat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Caleta-Car
- 7Aribo
- 9A Armstrong
- 17S Armstrong
- 21Livramento
- 31Bazunu
- 53Ballard
- 65Doyle
- 75Amo-Ameyaw
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 62Kelleher
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 32Matip
- 2Gomez
- 21TsimikasBooked at 25minsSubstituted forElliottat 57′minutesBooked at 60mins
- 7Milner
- 3FabinhoSubstituted forHendersonat 57′minutes
- 17JonesSubstituted forGakpoat 57′minutes
- 11Salah
- 9FirminoSubstituted forDÃazat 57′minutes
- 20Jota
Substitutes
- 5Konaté
- 13Adrián
- 14Henderson
- 18Gakpo
- 19Elliott
- 23DÃaz
- 28Carvalho
- 29Arthur
- 46R Williams
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Attendance:
- 31,129
Live Text
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Match ends, Southampton 4, Liverpool 4.
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Second Half ends, Southampton 4, Liverpool 4.
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Attempt saved. Joe Gomez (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harvey Elliott.
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Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Jan Bednarek (Southampton) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the right. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Southampton. Conceded by CaoimhÃn Kelleher.
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Attempt saved. Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Samuel Amo-Ameyaw.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Lyanco.
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Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Harvey Elliott following a fast break.
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Attempt missed. Luis DÃaz (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by James Milner.
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Attempt missed. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Alex McCarthy.
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Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cody Gakpo.
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Attempt saved. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Substitution, Southampton. Samuel Amo-Ameyaw replaces James Ward-Prowse.
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Substitution, Southampton. Dominic Ballard replaces Kamaldeen Sulemana.
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Attempt missed. Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Luis DÃaz.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Alex McCarthy.
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Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
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Attempt missed. Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
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