MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Steve Agnew thinks everyone at the club has to find a way to “regroup” in the weeks ahead to ensure they are ready for a promotion charge next season.

Boro’s season in the Premier League came to an end at Anfield yesterday when a goal from former Newcastle United midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum was followed by second half strikes from Phillipe Coutinho and Adam Lallana. Liverpool's 3-0 victory secured Champions League football for them next season.

The defeat was Middlesbrough’s 20th from 38 matches in the top tier and they ended a dreadful campaign 12 points shy of safety.

Agnew, who is due to hear from chairman Steve Gibson about his own future this week, said: “It’s a week of reflection, we need to analyse and work out why we finished where we finished. We are all disappointed.

“We have to think of a way to regroup and have a really strong campaign in the Championship next season.”

Agnew doesn’t envisage too much change in personnel over the summer though.

He said: “The players on loan like Calum Chambers and Alvaro Negredo are not contracted to this club, but they are the only two. The rest are all contracted. It was just a shame we didn’t get the result to finish on a bit of a high.”