LONDON: Liverpool missed the chance to all but secure Champions League action next season after a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, while Manchester United were frustrated in a goalless stalemate at Sunderland on Saturday.
Ryan Gravenberch’s sweet strike gave Liverpool the perfect start in the sixth minute at Anfield.
Chelsea hit back when Enzo Fernandez’s 35th-minute free-kick evaded everyone to find the bottom corner.
Boos at full-time reflected the mood around Anfield after another lackluster performance from the defending champions.
The result inched fourth-placed Liverpool closer to Champions League qualification, with a four-point lead over sixth-placed Bournemouth.
“I do,” said Slot on whether he thinks he can regain the fans’ backing.
“Not this season, by the way. This season, they will have their opinion, and it will not change.
“If we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I’m 100 percent convinced that we will be a different team next season than we are now.”
Chelsea can no longer mathematically finish in the top five and remain in ninth. The Blues had lost six consecutive Premier League games to fall out of contention for a top-five place prior to the trip to Merseyside.
But a more obdurate performance provided some encouragement for interim boss Calum McFarlane to take into next weekend’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Manchester United are already assured of Champions League football following their win over Liverpool last weekend.
Michael Carrick’s third-placed side have little left to play for, and it showed in a dour affair at the Stadium of Light.
It was the first time United had failed to score in a league game since November.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is confident he can win back the support of fans by turning around the Reds’ fortunes next season.
Despite a disappointing campaign, Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League and Slot is expected to remain in charge should they seal Champions League qualification.
Just over a year ago, the Dutchman was being serenaded as a Liverpool hero after winning the Premier League in his debut season.
And he believes his side will be much improved next season.
Liverpool’s campaign got off to a tragic start when forward Diogo Jota was killed in a car accident on his way back to England for pre-season.
Despite spending £450 million ($612 million) in the transfer window, the Reds have regressed and been beset by major injuries.
All of Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike were missing against Chelsea, while club record signing Alexander Isak was only fit enough to appear as a second-half substitute.
“It’s not always possible to also get exactly what you want, but for us, for me, it’s really clear what we are lacking this season,” added Slot.
“We’re trying with the players we have now because one of the things we are lacking is players that are fit, but the players that we have available now, I think again showed in the second half that they want to give everything and try to push, but it was not enough.”
Slot also explained the decision to replace Ngumoha was due to the 17-year-old suffering from cramps.
“I knew this would have been the reaction because he’s such a popular figure and he played a good 65 minutes,” said Slot.
“As it is so often in football, people don’t know everything, and that’s how it works, but it is what it is.
“I’m the manager, I need to make decisions. And sometimes people are happy with them, sometimes they are not, and today clearly they weren’t.”
