AS far as recent results go, since securing the Premier League title a month ago, Liverpool have truly taken their foot off the gas.

With two losses and a draw in the last three matches, results seem to not matter anymore for the Reds.

In the penultimate away match against Brighton and Hove Albion, where the Merseyside club lost 3-2 on Monday, it was clear that the players did not play with the same intensity they had all season.

Head coach Arne Slot could even afford a smile, while the travelling supporters were still in their boisterous celebratory mood after the final whistle.

And with Slot and his players having gone on holiday a few days before the match against the Seagulls, it was pretty telling as to how they intend to end the season.

There had been suggestions that allowing the players to take an early break would be beneficial for them.

To be able to get some down time, to rest and to clear their minds after a gruelling and long campaign could, in a sense, allow them to come back fresher for pre-season training.

There was some banter from fans of rival clubs, chanting that Liverpool’s point tally may not cross the 90 mark, but frankly, Slot and his players really could not care less if it doesn’t.

In fact, if the point tally is still at 83 after playing the last league match of the season against Crystal Palace at Anfield tomorrow, it will not even be the lowest an English club has gotten to win the league.

That was achieved by Manchester United which won the league in the 1996/97 season with 75 points, while the second lowest was by Arsenal the following season with 78.

Against Palace tomorrow, the mood and motivation should still be pretty much the same.

The players’ minds could either already be on the podium receiving their winners’ medals and lifting the league trophy, or on a beach somewhere with cocktail in hand.

For Mohamed Salah, his target of breaking the record for most league goal involvements may or may not happen this season.

The Egyptian, who made his 400th club appearance against Brighton, was unfortunate to put his shot wide after a low cross from Cody Gakpo.

With 28 goals and 18 assists to his name, Salah is still one short of equalling the record set by Alan Shearer, then with Blackburn Rovers in the 1994/95 season, and Andy Cole in the 1993/94 season with Newcastle.

He is also short of two assists to equal the most in a single league season, jointly held by Thierry Henry, formerly of Arsenal, and Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne.

Having been rested for the match at the American Express Stadium, club captain Virgil van Dijk is expected to be recalled to the starting line-up.

The other players expected to be named in the starting XI include Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo and Andrew Robertson.

Federico Chiesa, who made his first Premier League start against Brighton, had a relatively good showing – given his lack of playing time – and could also be retained as centre forward ahead of Darwin Nunez.

As for Crystal Palace, there were no hangovers whatsoever following their historic win over much-fancied Man City to secure their first-ever major trophy in the FA Cup final last weekend.

They followed that up with another victory, by beating Wolves 4-2 in a league match in midweek.

The Eagles, in 12th place, are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions and seem to have a different motivation to continue their impressive run. — By IVAN LOH