Dorothy

"That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it."

"Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on. As I've always said, qualifying to next season's Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen."

"As I've always said, qualifying to next season's Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen."

"The culmination of the fan support and a good performance will lead us to what we want to achieve and that is qualifying for the Champions League."

There is a four-point cushion to Bournemouth (55) in sixth place. Brighton (53) and Brentford (51) in seventh and eighth have the final European places.

Virgil van Dijk scored with two headers, but this was another directionless performance from the Reds as the pressure grew on Arne Slot, who presided over an 12th defeat of the season.

However, he also understands there is an "elephant in the room" regarding Xabi Alonso - who is wanted by Chelsea and has been called for by Liverpool fans to take over from Slot in the summer.

In midfield and defence, Liverpool have been poor, conceding more than 50 goals in a 38-game Premier League campaign for the first time (52). Excluding penalties, they have conceded the most goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season (20).

Did you know? Liverpool have conceded four goals in a Premier League game for the first time since a 4-4 draw with Southampton in their final match of the 2022-23 season – the Reds have also leaked more than 50 goals in a 38-game Premier League campaign for the first time (52).

Youri Tielemans breezed past Gravenberch’s challenge at the start of the second half, leaving the Dutchman in a heap, but after the restart there was also more tempo to Liverpool’s play. Ngumoha burned past Matty Cash and from the byline, and possibly out of play, he sent the ball into the box. Villa stopped but Liverpool stayed alive and Pau Torres blocked a shot by Jones. Martínez frantically waved to the referee, Chris Kavanagh, screaming injustice.

Whether fifth-placed Liverpool will also be there is undecided as defeat leaves them looking over their shoulder, with Bournemouth and Brighton still able to overtake them.

"If you don't have the best season, especially if you compare with last season, if you compare it with other seasons, you might have a different debate, but if you compare it with last season, this has definitely not been a great season, then it is also normal that criticism comes. We have all had our share, and with all, I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don't win the league."

Ollie Watkins’ double, which could secure his place in England’s World Cup squad, and classy goals from Morgan Rogers and John McGinn guaranteed Unai Emery’s men will finish in the top five of the Premier League with a game to spare.