Mohamed Salah could not have asked for anything more from his nine-year stint at Liverpool, saying he and fellow departing hero Andy Robertson had put the club "back where it belongs".

Salah and Robertson both made their final appearance for the Reds on Sunday as they drew 1-1 with Brentford, securing a fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

That result ensured Champions League qualification for 2026-27, which will be the ninth time in 10 years that the Reds have appeared in UEFA's premier club competition.

When Salah and Robertson arrived at Anfield in 2017, the former joining from Roma for £43m and the latter from Hull City for £10m, participating on the biggest stage was not something they could take for granted.

Liverpool had only appeared in the Champions League in two of the previous eight seasons prior to 2017-18, going out in the group stage on both occasions.

They were runners-up to Real Madrid in their first campaign with Salah and Robertson in the team, then beat Tottenham to lift the trophy one year later.

Salah and Robertson also helped the Reds win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two EFL Cups, and both said emotional farewells to the Anfield crowd on Sunday.

Speaking to Sky Sports after full-time, Salah said: "It's very tough to leave a place like this... in the media, you always see me as tough and aggressive, but inside, I'm like a baby!

"We lived our youth here, sharing everything from the beginning until the end. We didn't even dream of what we had, but we did it.

"We put this club back where it belongs. The club is fighting for everything, and the fans will not accept less than that.

"They don't care much about the result, as long as you give your sweat and blood here, they will love you forever. 

"It's tricky to leave Liverpool, but you have to move on. It's life. Would I want more than I achieved? Not really. Collectively and individually, we won it all.

"When we're leaving, to be received like this today, the fans appreciate what you have done for the club, that's the most important thing."

Asked if he saw himself returning to Liverpool in the future, the forward responded: "No, I'm not coming back. I'll be too emotional!

"I would love to come back, but I hope the team stay in the position they are, fighting for everything. I love this place."

Salah provided the assist for Curtis Jones' opening goal against Brentford, overhauling Steven Gerrard as Liverpool's all-time leading assister in the Premier League, on 93. 

He is the 10th player to become a single club's leading all-time scorer and assister in the competition, with his 191 goals putting him a long way clear of second-placed Robbie Fowler (128).

Salah's 315 Premier League appearances are also the fifth-most for Liverpool, behind Jamie Carragher (508), Gerrard (504), Jordan Henderson (360) and Sami Hyypia (318). Pepe Reina is sixth on that list with 285, with Robertson seventh on 275.

Asked about Robertson's influence, Salah added: "I'm honoured to share the dressing room with him. 

"He's a fantastic guy, a fantastic player. He was always there for me when I needed him, and he was there for the team."