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Liverpool on the brink of the Champions League spot
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 19.05.21. | 10:00
They have to win the next two games, but still need other factors in order to finish fourth
What looked so far away in mid-season, now looks within grasp: Liverpool have a serious chance of qualifying for the Champions League after all. It’s still not 100%, but the Reds are vey close to the „safety zone“, which means fourth place and a possibility to participate in the Europe’s most prestigious competition. After a serious of good results (last defeat in March against Fulham), Klopp also got a bit of „help“ from his fellow countrymen Thomas Tuchel, who won last night against Leicester and all but secured the Champions League spot, effectively leaving the Foxes to battle with Liverpool in the last round. Off course, Chelsea could still miss the Champions League all together, if they fail to win against Villa and both Leicester and the Reds win.
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So, what Liverpool has to do to get to the Champions League? First of all, he has to win tonight against Burnley, and next week against Crystal Palace. Then, if Leicester fails to win at home against Spurs, they move into the fourth place. But, if the Foxes win, both teams will have 69 points. If it comes to that, Liverpool has the slight advantage.
Liverpool’s current goal difference is plus 21, while Leicester (+20) and Chelsea (+23), so the Reds have the advantage, but only if they match the goal difference with the Leicester – Tottehnam match. If buy any chance Leicester wins with a big goal margin, they remain fourth. If both teams finish with the same goal difference, Liverpool will move into the fourth place, just because of the slightly better head to head record: Liverpool won 3-0 at Anfield in November, Leicester won 3-1 at the King Power in February.
But, first things first: The Reds have to continue their good form and defeat Burnley tonight. The Clarets enjoyed their 0-1 win over Klopp’s men at Anfield in January and are aiming for the fist double win over Liverpool in 91 years. They have nothing else to play for, since Burnley won’t be relegated. And Klopp is aware of that, but thinks Liverpool’s ability to cope with injuries this season means they are deserving of a place in next season's Champions League.
„We had to fight for everything, for each European spot, nothing is guaranteed now we could still be completely without European football. That's how close it is. The situation changed in our direction with the number of results. The two games we drew we drew in the last second. Aston Villa we won in the last second, West Brom we won in the last second. It is a quite intense period of the season for us. We played Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday. That's massive after all the things. We need to be lucky with injuries. We don't have a lot of options in some positions. Maybe we deserve it with the injuries we all the things we went through this year“ said Klopp.
PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 37
Tuesday
Manchester United - Fulham 1-1 (1-0)
/Cavani 15' - Bryan 76'/
Southampton - Leeds 0-2 (0-0)
/Bamford 75', Roberts 90+5'/
Brighton - Manchester City 3-2 (0-1)
/Trossard 50', Webster 72', Burn 76' - Gundogan 2', Foden 48'/
Chelsea - Leicester City 2-1 (0-0)
/Rudiger 48', Jorginho 66' pen - Iheanacho 76'/
Wednesday
20.00: Everton - Wolverhampton
20.00: Newcastle - Sheffield United
20.00: Tottenham - Aston Villa
21.00: Crystal Palace - Arsenal
22.15: Burnley - Liverpool
22.15: West Brom - West Ham
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