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.