Liverpool confirmed Champions League football for next season despite being held by Brentford as Anfield waved farewell to club legends Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.

It has been a thoroughly underwhelming season for last season's Premier League champions and, on an emotional day, once again they failed to hold on after taking the lead.

But, as they said goodbye to two greats, Liverpool at least secured the point they needed to seal fifth spot - and a Champions League place.

The result means Brentford have ended the season with just one win in 10 top-flight games to miss out on qualifying for Europe for the first time.

All eyes were on Salah and Robertson, who were making their 442nd and 275th appearances respectively, after nine years of service.

Reds boss Arne Slot opted to start Salah despite the winger's controversial social media post after the defeat at Aston Villa nine days earlier, when the Egyptian appeared to criticise the head coach.

And Salah almost got the dream send-off he wanted when he curled a 19th-minute free-kick around the Brentford wall. Instead of hitting the back of the net, however, the ball hit the post.

Salah did manage the 120th assist of his magnificent Liverpool career, teeing up Curtis Jones to score in front of the Kop in the 58th minute.

But Liverpool's lead lasted little more than five minutes as Kevin Schade, who had earlier been denied by a fine save by the returning Alisson, levelled.

Liverpool survived some anxious moments in the second half after Salah was replaced amid emotional scenes in the 74th minute.

Robertson was also given a standing ovation after being substituted in the 83rd minute before both departing players returned to the pitch after full-time, with Salah looking visibly upset as The Kop sang his name.

This marked the end of the Liverpool story for Salah and Robertson, two special players who conquered in England and Europe while wearing the famous red shirt.

On a poignant afternoon on Merseyside, fans sang their names throughout and displayed mosaics honouring both, while the match programme was dedicated to their achievements.

Hours before kick-off, fans wearing shirts with the names of Salah and Robertson on the back arrived at the ground, some wearing plastic crowns in homage to 'Egyptian king' Salah.

Others came as ancient Egyptian pharaohs, while a banner on The Kop read 'Salah Is Our King'.

When Liverpool's number 11 stepped up to bend a free-kick around the Brentford wall, fans climbed out of their seats thinking it was going in.

Instead it clattered against the post and Salah reacted by doing a hop, skip and a jump in frustration.

Salah did provide a key moment in the game, however, with his pass setting up Jones to score.

As has happened so many times this season, Liverpool were unable to hold on to the lead, and then came the moment when Salah left the pitch for the final time in a Liverpool shirt.

After being hugged by many of his team-mates, he got down on all fours before kissing the Anfield turf and then he was gone.

Robertson, too, was given a standing ovation and surrounded by team-mates when he was replaced by Milos Kerkez.

After full-time, both players returned to the pitch and were given a guard of honour, while they were hugged by former Liverpool player and manager Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush, the club's all-time leading scorer.

Brentford came close to winning the game in the closing stages but miss out on Europe on goal difference to Brighton, even though the Seagulls lost 3-0 at home to Manchester United.

Both Brentford and Brighton finished on 53 points. The Seagulls finished on plus six, three better than the Bees managed.

There will be disappointment they came so close to following Bournemouth into Europe for the first time.

Yet it will not be forgotten at how well Brentford have performed in Keith Andrews' first season in charge.

Tipped by many for relegation at the start of the campaign, the Bees have plenty to be optimistic about after eye-catching wins over Aston Villa, Manchester United and Liverpool.