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Liverpool are on the brink of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted that his Liverpool side could be advantaged in the title race against Arsenal and Manchester City by avoiding the play-off round in the Champions League.
The Reds face Girona on Tuesday evening and are on the brink of qualification for the round of 16 with three games left to play. Should Liverpool triumph over the Catalan outfit and continue their 100 per cent winning run in the competition, they will hold their spot at the top of the 36-team table.
If other results go their way, Liverpool could also open up a big enough gap that would mean they could not be caught by enough teams to drop out of the top eight before the end of January. Slot was asked about the potential boost of that being confirmed and how it could be an advantage over Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City.
Slot said: "It could, but if we end up in the top eight I assume these clubs you were just mentioning end up in the top eight as well. So, I think Arsenal 95 per cent sure, [Manchester] City have to do a bit more maybe but they are able to win three times in a row as well, so then they will be in [the] top eight. But you never know if it's an advantage.
"Until now we've played almost every three days and we haven't done that bad, so maybe we should implement some friendly games if we finish top eight! No, it's a joke of course!
"It hasn't been bad for us that we've played so many games but we are pushing really hard to end up top eight to have the best possible seeding, but definitely also to skip that round."
Arsenal are in Champions League action on Wednesday.Arsenal are in Champions League action on Wednesday.
Arsenal are in Champions League action on Wednesday. | AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool will be able to rest key players in European matches should their place in the round of 16 be confirmed, as well as removing potential play-off fixtures from the calendar in February.
Arsenal face AS Monaco on Wednesday in Mikel Arteta's latest Champions League action. The Gunners have won three of their five games in the league phase of the competition, with 10 points on the board.
They sit inside the top eight, which provides immediate passage to the round of 16, with three games remaining. Monaco are one place below them, with the Gunners boasting a better goal difference. A total of seven sides are on 10 points, with the fight for a top-eight spot set to go down to the wire.
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