Arne Slot said his Liverpool team know what they need to do in their final Premier League game of the season against Brentford with Champions League qualification on the line.

Liverpool have endured an underwhelming campaign in Slot's second season at Anfield, with the Reds fifth and not yet assured of a spot in UEFA's flagship competition.

They do, however, have it in their own hands. A win or draw will be enough to clinch a top-five finish, though defeat to Brentford, who are also aiming to seal a place in Europe, could have them nervously checking other results on Sunday. 

Bournemouth could still finish fifth if they win away to Nottingham Forest, though Andoni Iroala's side would need a significant seven-goal swing to go in their favour, but they could still reach the Champions League if Aston Villa finish fifth after their Europa League success in midweek. 

It has been reported this week that Slot still faces the possibility of being replaced in the summer, but the Liverpool boss insisted that his players owe a performance to their supporters on the final day after a difficult campaign for his team. 

"We know what we need to do. We need to win or have a draw, otherwise we still have an acceptable goal difference," Slot told reporters.

"I think we would like to give our fans a nice way of ending the season because there has been far too much disappointment this season for us.

"With 'us', I mean the club, and that includes the fans, the staff and the players as well. We want to end with a win, knowing that Brentford is playing for something important too."

Brentford, meanwhile, arrive on Merseyside with Europe on their minds, with the Bees currently ninth and level on points with Chelsea, who occupy the Conference League spot. 

However, the Blues take on fellow European hopefuls Sunderland on the final day, so Brentford know a win could be enough depending on results elsewhere, with Brighton, who face Manchester United, also in the mix. 

It has been a sensational first season under Keith Andrews for Brentford, with the Bees boss nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Year award for his success.

However, Andrews wants to end his maiden campaign in the top-flight on a high, and he acknowledged his team would need a "special" performance to topple Liverpool. 

"It would make it a remarkable season, considering where we started from," Andrews said.

"To navigate through the season and come out at the end to have that potential outcome is pretty special. But we're going to have to produce a special performance to get that.

"We just want to approach it like we do most games; we'll have our game plan, what we do with and without the ball, and try to hurt them in areas we feel we can.

"But, equally, we're aware of the strengths that they have."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Mohamed Salah

Salah has played 441 games for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 257 goals and providing 119 assists, but his final campaign at Anfield has not gone to plan. 

He has just seven Premier League goals this season and could be just the second golden boot winner to score 20+ fewer goals than the previous campaign (29 last season), along with Alan Shearer (25 in 1996-97, 2 in 1997-98).

Brentford – Igor Thiago

Despite scoring just once in his last five Premier League games, Thiago will be hoping to get himself back amongst the action at Anfield.

He has scored 41% of Brentford's league goals this season (22/54), currently the highest share by a player in a single campaign since Harry Kane in 2022-23 (43% for Spurs – 30/70).

MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN

Despite being favoured by the Opta supercomputer, Liverpool lost 3-2 in the reverse fixture against Brentford, but they have never lost consecutive league games against the Bees before.

However, this is a Liverpool side that have lost 19 games in all competitions this season. In the club's entire history, only in 1936-37 (20), 1952-53 (21), 1953-54 (24), and 1992-93 (20) have they ever lost 20+ matches in a single campaign.

And they will be confident of avoiding another loss here. The Reds have not lost their final league game in any of the last 10 seasons (W7 D3). When finishing a league campaign at home, they are unbeaten in 18 (W15 D3) since a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in 1988-89.

Liverpool also come up against a Brentford side that have won just one of their last nine Premier League games (D6 L2), beating West Ham 3-0 earlier this month.

In addition, the Bees have lost their last six trips to Anfield without scoring a single goal despite going unbeaten in their first three away league games against them between 1936 and 1937.

Brentford have also won their final game in just one of their four previous Premier League campaigns (D1 L2), beating Manchester City 1-0 in 2022-23.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Liverpool – 50.9%

Draw – 22.4%

Brentford – 26.7%