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Slot already looking ahead to next season after lifting Premier League title

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Arne Slot admits he is already planning Liverpool's defence of their Premier League title after they lifted the trophy at Anfield after a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Palace went ahead through Ismaila Sarr's early, confident finish after he was put clean through on goal following a searching pass by Tyrick Mitchell.

Slot's men had the chances to equalise, but they were spurned, and their job was made harder by Ryan Gravenberch's red card in the second half after a last-man challenge on Daichi Kamada.

Nevertheless, they found the goal with six minutes remaining as Mohamed Salah smashed an effort home, which deflected in off Maxence Lacroix.

Liverpool ended the season 10 points clear of Arsenal and wrapped up the title with four matches remaining, with the Dutchman looking ahead to winning the club's 21st league title.

When asked by Sky Sports when focus turned to the following campaign, Slot said: "Probably four weeks ago!

"It never stops. Even during the season, you are looking to the next one. The sporting director is more involved in the long term than me, but he keeps me involved the whole time, as you can expect."

Liverpool have been linked with a number of players and are expected to spend heavily this summer, with Slot having already discussed transfer targets with the club for some time.

He said: "The targets we have now did not come up last week. We've been looking at them for a long time."

Slot's men had been at the top of the table for nearly the entire season, but he only started to believe the title was in reach once they defeated Manchester City 2-0 in late February, which put them 11 points clear.

He also viewed the 3-0 victory over Manchester United on matchday three as vital in changing the perception around his side in terms of what they can achieve during the campaign.

"Thinking we would be part of it came early in the season after the United win," he said.

"Before that, we played good teams, but to beat them 3-0 in their stadium when we expected them to be top six, it was 'Ok, we can compete for the league this season'.

"Then after City away, that was really a moment where I thought it was going to be difficult for other teams to end up above us."

Trent Alexander-Arnold, who came on for his final appearance for the club as a half-time substitute, hopes Liverpool fans will be able to remember the contributions he gave to the club.

The full-back, who picked up seven major trophies with his boyhood club, will leave on a free transfer and is reportedly close to a move to Real Madrid.

He received a mixed reception from the home fans in their previous match at Anfield against Arsenal, but was given a far warmer ovation this time around.

He told Sky Sports: "I didn't know what to expect stepping up at Anfield today after what happened a few weeks ago, but I wanted to play for the club one last time.

"To get that reception means more than anything. I've never felt so loved and cared for than today.

"From the bottom of my heart, I hope the fans of this club will be able to recognise the hard work and everything that I've done for the team."

The Liverpool academy graduate leaves the Premier League as the most creative defender in the competition's history with 64 assists and 86 across all competitions since making his debut in 2016.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner admitted he had mixed emotions as his side rounded off a historic season, which included a first major trophy, as they clinched the FA Cup.

They also ended the campaign with a six-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, though they failed to hold on for a second successive win at Anfield.

He told Palace TV: "Today I have two feelings: I'm not really pleased with our performance today.

"A few players, I think, didn't play how we want to play, and this I didn't like to see. I think that's why we got the draw, because there were so many situations, and we could have won this game.

"On the other hand, of course, it's an unbeaten end to the season, a point record [in the Premier League for Palace, 53], winning the FA Cup – so a fantastic season overall, and hopefully we learn from this game when we meet for pre-season."