Arne Slot makes valid point in defense of Liverpool's difficult season
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Liverpool may have underperformed during the 2025-26 season but it still ended the campaign by securing Champions League qualification, unlike a host of other big clubsArne Slot spoke about Champions League qualification(Image: Getty Images)Arne Slot pointed out that not every big club can qualify for the Champions League as he said that – although Liverpool's season was disappointing – a top-five finish is a good base to start from heading into next season.Liverpool endured a poor campaign and did not come close to winning silverware in any of the four competitions that it took part in. The final weekend of the season saw Liverpool draw 1-1 with Brentford to rubber-stamp its place in next season's Champions League, as Slot's men qualified alongside Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Manchester United.Slot pointed out that it is a yearly occurrence for big clubs in England to miss out on Champions League qualification.READ MORE: Arne Slot's one-word description of nightmare Liverpool season says everythingREAD MORE: Wayne Rooney and others left with egg on face as Liverpool prediction backfiresChelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham competed in the Champions League this season but won't be in it next year after finishing 10th, 12th and 17th respectively in the final top-flight standings.“What we did deserve was qualifying for the Champions League,” Slot told BBC Sport.“It hasn’t been our best season, completely clear and obvious, but we’ve always deserved to qualify for the Champions League because I think for large parts, maybe the whole season, we’ve been in the top five or quite high.“So, not great, but as this league and England knows, big, big, big clubs miss out on Champions League once in a while.Slot acknowledged the season was not a good one(Image: PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)“If this is our lowest base, then there’s a lot to look forward to in the next season and the seasons going onwards.”In a post-game press conference, Slot added: “As you see when you look at the league table, big clubs are not able to qualify for Champions League or in Europe, big clubs have not been able to qualify for Europe in the last few seasons in this league.“So we can never take it for granted, but it’s clear and obvious that we want it more.“But I’m really proud of the players for what they’ve done this season, because it’s been a very, very, very, very tough season for us.READ MORE: Liverpool could choose from seven relegated Premier League stars too good to go downREAD MORE: Liverpool told Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would be perfect Mohamed Salah replacement“With all the things we’ve had to experience, with all the injuries, I can come up with all the things we had to go through.“But if this in the end then is the minimum for us, qualifying for the Champions League in fifth place, [then it’s a good base].“Going out of the FA Cup against the winners, losing an away game against Man City which so many teams do, losing against Paris Saint-Germain for the second year in a row, when no team in the last two years were able to beat them over two games.“So yeah, not what I would have loved us to achieve this season before we started.
But taking everything into account, what has happened to us this season, I’m today happy that we’ve qualified for the Champions League.”