Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks on from the dugout prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Liverpool FC and Qarabag FK at Anfield on January 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England.placeholder image
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks on from the dugout prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Liverpool FC and Qarabag FK at Anfield on January 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. | Getty Images
Liverpool have struggled for consistency all season, could they find some to get over the line in the race for a Champions League spot?
The frustrating thing for Arne Slot and Liverpool this season is that, even being as poor as they have been, they still have every chance to finish third in the league.
It wouldn’t have taken a big improvement to still be in the title race which, small consolation as it is, should give encouragement for next season because, surely they can’t be as bad again? The race is on for the Champions League places and Slot might be saved by his team’s form in Europe and that of the other English sides. A fifth or even sixth placed finish might yet be enough, not that he will want to take that gamble.
Liverpool tipped to miss out on top four spot
One pundit who doesn’t think that Liverpool have what it takes to finish in the top four and qualify safely for the Champions League is Jamie Carragher who, speaking on Sky Sports reckons that Slot faces an uphill battle. When asked if his former club can get over the line and see off Man United and Chelsea, he said: "No. Right now I don't. They would have to have a huge upturn in form. And the ones above them are in great form. It's a bad one. When you look at the league for Liverpool, it looks like a long way to get into the top five Champions League positions.
“There's a gap now. You can make that up but Liverpool will have to do well in the two cup competitions to save the season. The manager has another decision to make on the front four. If Liverpool continue the way they are, with a front four and the games end to end, I just don't see how they can make the Champions League positions. But no matter what Arne Slot does, the make-up of this squad and team isn't right. It never looks stable, they are never in control. There is a long road ahead for Liverpool to make the Champions League places."
Can Liverpool make the top four?
Man United and Chelsea have been going well, however, both teams have shown that they also have insecurities this week. Chelsea let slip a two-goal lead, at home, against Leeds United with United leaving it until injury time to score an equaliser against West Ham. Two teams who are fighting relegation both taking points of sides with Champions League aspirations.
What it has also done, is serve as a reminder as to the competitiveness of the Premier League. There are no easy games and the season could well finish with teams securing the lowest amount of points ever in qualifying for the top four. What Liverpool must do, is take advantage of any slip ups by the teams above them and concentrate on their own performances and results. Slot has a lot of problems to fix but he still has a squad that is more than capable of making the top four.
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