It’s all about Champions League
qualification for Liverpool . The Reds’ challenge for a return
to Europe’s elite has been
revived by back-to-back wins
over Arsenal and Burnley. Jurgen Klopp’s men are fourth in
the Premier League table - five
points better off than Arsenal and
six ahead of Manchester United,
who both have two games in
hand. But Liverpool may have to climb
higher in order to guarantee that
Champions League football
returns to Anfield. The race for the top four could
turn into a sprint for the top three
during the run-in. There is a nightmare scenario for
the Reds in which they could
finish fourth and end up in the
Europa League next season. It’s unlikely but still possible
nevertheless. How? Well, under UEFA rules, the
maximum number of teams any
country can have playing in the
Champions League is five. Manchester United are the
bookies’ favourites to win the
Europa League and if they
achieve that they are guaranteed
the prize of a Champions League
spot. If United finish outside the top
four and lift the trophy, they
would be the Premier League’s
fifth representative. If United finish inside the top four
and lift the trophy, the
Champions League place would
not drop down to the fifth placed
side. Where it would get complicated
is if Leicester City’s remarkable
European fairytale takes them all
the way to Cardiff on June 3. The Foxes are England’s sole
representatives left in the
Champions League after
stunning Sevilla to reach the
quarter-finals this week. Want more expert Reds
coverage and extra LFC
podcasts? Sign up for Anfield Extra If Leicester were to win the
Champions League – coupled
with United winning the Europa
League – then they would both
qualify for next season’s
competition at the expense of the Premier League’s fourth placed
club. Improbable? Yes. Leicester are
the 40/1 outsiders for European
glory but then again they were
5000/1 shots for the Premier
League title.....
