Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah said he was “disappointed” the club had missed out on qualifying for the Champions League next season and added, “There is absolutely no excuse for that.”
Liverpool will finish fifth and play in the European League next season.
“We leave you [fans] “We dropped ourselves,” said Egypt international Salah, 30.
Liverpool have won seven of their past eight games in a late bid for fourth place but, in the end, have been unable to make up for their inconsistent form for most of the season before that half.
United only needed a point at home to Chelsea in the penultimate game of their season to confirm their place in the Champions League and join second-placed Manchester City, second-placed Arsenal and Newcastle United as England’s Champions League squad next season.
“We had everything we needed to qualify for the Champions League next year and we failed,” said Salah, who was part of the Liverpool team that won the tournament in 2018-19 and lost last year’s final to Real Madrid.
“We are Liverpool and qualifying for the competition is the minimum.
“I’m sorry, but it’s still too early for an optimistic post.”
Liverpool started the campaign promisingly by beating Manchester City in the Community Shield but have since won just two of their opening eight Premier League matches.
The team struggled away in the Premier League before their recent improvement in form, with three of their eight defeats coming away at Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Bournemouth, while they were only beaten by league strugglers Leeds United at home.
Liverpool lost comfortably to Real Madrid in the round of 16 of the Champions League this season, while it was eliminated in the fourth round of the FA Cup and League Cup against Brighton and Manchester City, respectively.
Salah, who signed a lucrative new three-year contract with Liverpool last summer, has scored 19 league goals this season, including six in 14 matches before the 2022 World Cup and 13 in 23 matches after the tournament.
