Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (kick-off 20:15 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On how he'll be judged in the summer: "If we don't have Champions League football, it's not been an acceptable season."
Slot acknowledged the financial impact of qualification, noting how Federico Chiesa was the only signing possible during his first window because the previous season they were competing in the Europa League.
Amid small margins, Liverpool will have to be "close to perfection" to qualify for the Champions League.
Slot was "disappointed" by Dominik Szoboszlai's red card against Manchester City: “That’s not what we like if we love football, but he followed the rulebook and the referees are there to follow the rulebook.”
He is expecting defender Joe Gomez, who is a potential option at right-back, to train on Tuesday, but said: "If he's not ready to start, then we are missing four players in that position."
On conceding late goals: "The late goals in extra time is far more than usual – is that bad luck or us? That is something we can find out in the next three to four months."
Slot compared how Liverpool performed against City with their display in the reverse fixture, when "we hardly touched the ball". He attributed this to his players not starting the season ready to compete every three games, though they are now at an acceptable level of intensity.
He refuted suggestions that Alisson's passing accuracy has got worse: "I've seen the same goalkeeper this year as last year. The main thing for a goalkeeper is still shot-stopping, by the way, and he does that really well."
On protecting his players' mentality: "Draws feel like a loss at this club. It's not easy for the players because they know what the standards of Liverpool mean and they are not performing to those standards at the moment."
Slot says this has been his most difficult season "by a mile", noting that he has not lost two games in a row in previous seasons.
On how he adapts to the challenge: "No-one in this building would say I have completely changed, but it is different next to other seasons where we always did something special. There's still a possibility that we can do something special this season as well."
On Sunderland: "It's definitely an accomplishment if you are promoted and do so well. That is a big compliment to their players and manager."
Follow all of Tuesday’s Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day’s football news
Get a question about Liverpool? Get in touch and we’ll put it to our experts
