The fifth-placed Reds arrived at St Mary’s knowing they had already missed out on a top-four finish for the first time since 2015-16.
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool will be Premier League contenders next season after ending a crushing campaign with a thrilling 4-4 draw at relegated Southampton.
The fifth-placed Reds arrived at St Mary’s knowing they had missed out on a top-four finish for the first time since 2015-16.
Early goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino looked to have set the fit visitors on course for outright success on the south coast.
But they were forced to come from 4-2 down to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games after a brace from Kamaldeen Sulemana and strikes from James Ward-Prowse and Adam Armstrong.
Liverpool manager Klopp, whose side avoided defeat thanks to a goal from substitute Cody Gakpo and a second from Jota, was happy to see the end of 2022-23 and is confident that next term will be much more memorable.
“There were times during the season where you thought it was going to be a four-year season,” he said.
“Thank God for the last 11 games, they’ve helped us tremendously, they’ve given us a real boost, they’ve given us perspective, they’ve given us a basis for what we need to do.
“That it hasn’t turned into a top season, we see that, we know that, we’re very disappointed not to be in the top four.”
“But there are times when you have to admit that there were four teams that were better than us – that’s true.
“We played a bad season, we are fifth, that is also news.
“Imagine we were our normal selves, which we definitely will be again next season and we’ll be contenders again. that’s it. The last 11 games have helped us realize that again.”
Gakpo and Jota struck in the 72nd and 73rd minutes to prevent Liverpool slipping to a shock defeat, while Mohamed Salah hit the post late on.
Klopp felt his players contributed to their own undoing during a “stupid” period of chaotic play.
“We’re 2-0 up and you know these Southampton players want to repay these people (the home fans) and we let them, they’ve just opened the door for a really talented attacking team with the speed they’ve got,” he said.
“I can list the things we weren’t that led to the counter attacks they had.
“Then it’s 2-2 and 4-2 and then we started doing the right things again. I think we could have scored the fifth and sixth goals.
“Top start, excellent finish, just plain stupid in between.”
