Liverpool lost ground on the Premier League’s top three on Sunday after falling to a late draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Reds should really have won their last two matches – at home against Leeds and the trip to West London – and two victories would have given them a nice cushion in the Premier League’s top four.
While Liverpool remain in fourth position, they are now eight points adrift of both Aston Villa and Manchester City and 14 behind leaders Arsenal.
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Fulham v Liverpool - Premier League
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Hope of catching Arsenal has long-since evaporated, regardless of whether Liverpool can pick up a surprise win over the Gunners on Thursday. Qualifying for next season’s Champions League is the new goal of the Premier League season.
A top-five finish may be enough to do that, but for now, that means the Reds aiming to place inside the division’s top four. After seeing Arne Slot’s team collapse at Craven Cottage, Gary Neville has given his take on whether that is going to be possible.
Gary Neville expecting Champions League finish for Liverpool
Liverpool supporters can look at the Premier League table two different ways this season.
Yes, they should be higher, and it is a failure that they are not in the title picture after winning the trophy last season and spending such huge amounts in the summer. But for as bad as they have been, fourth is not such a sorry position.
Florian Wirtz covers his face with his hand during Liverpool's Premier League match against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
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That they are so high despite being so bad for such long periods is testament to the quality still available within the Liverpool squad. And speaking to Sky Sports at the end of Sunday’s Premier League fixtures, Neville said that this is what should mean the Reds have enough to secure Champions League football for 2026/27.
“They’re not at their best, they’re conceding goals still, it’s still not quite right up front,” he said. “But they look like they’re going to finish in the Champions League places, partly because they’re good enough to but partly because there aren’t enough teams around them good enough to knock them out of them. I think that’s going to be the reality for Liverpool.
“They’ve got enough good players up top , Salah’s going to come back. They’re going to get there in terms of Champions League place but they’re not going to shock us and go on a run in the second half of the season I don’t think.”
Fill in the blank: The most concerning thing about Fulham 2-2 Liverpool was __________
A few to choose from 😬
Harrison Reed and Antonee Robinson celebrate after Reed scores against Liverpool for Fulham in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.
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Arne Slot must go if Liverpool do not deliver
Heading into the season, many at Liverpool were of the feeling that qualifying for the Champions League was a near-certainty.
It was never a given in the Premier League where there are so many quality sides aiming for a top-four or even top-five finish. But after being so much better than the chasing pack last season, it was unthinkable that Liverpool could drop out.
Nevertheless, this has happened before. Liverpool were so, so close to winning a quadruple in 2022, but fell out of the top-four the season after. It can happen.
If the same happens again, then Slot should absolutely pay with his job. Jurgen Klopp was never really under threat three years ago, but his predecessor does not hold anything like the same status at Anfield.
Neville is likely right and Liverpool will be fine. But there is only three points separating them sixth-placed Manchester United and six keeping them above Everton in 12th. Things could still go wrong very quickly. If that does happen, there is no way Slot should be in charge next term.
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