Arne Slot looks on during a Liverpool matchplaceholder image
Arne Slot looks on during a Liverpool match | Getty Images
Liverpool are in a fight to finish in the Champions League places with Man United and Chelsea within their sights.
The recruitment last summer and Liverpool’s status as one of Europe’s biggest clubs will help to compensate for the loss of Champions League football, should Arne Slot’s side miss out.
It would be a stark fall from grace after being comfortable champions last season and having spent a record amount of money to refresh a squad that has been coming to the end of Jurgen Klopp’s cycle for some time now. This is the latest on Liverpool’s current situation, how they are predicted to finish the season and what their rivals in the hunt for Champions League football face in the run-in to the end of the season.
Liverpool face Champions League fight
Currently in sixth place in the Premier League, recent results have gone in Liverpool’s favour with Chelsea and Man United both dropping points. As things stand, there is just three points separating fourth to sixth place. United are on 45, Chelsea on 44 and Liverpool are on 42. There is every chance that the final positions might not be decided until the last day of the season.
Current standings
4th Man United 45 GD +10
5th Chelsea 44 GD +17
6th Liverpool 42 GD +6
The predicted table seems to change on an almost weekly basis. Only a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool were being tipped to finish outside the top four and stay where they are just now. After recent performances, they are now predicted to finish fourth, however, it is going to be tight, very tight.
According to Opta, Liverpool are set to finish with 62.92 points, Chelsea 62.68 and United 62.36. A goal either way, a dodgy decision, a bit of luck and these placings could be completely changed. In short, there is nothing between the three teams fighting for one place, although this could change if English sides do enough to gain an extra Champions League place or an English side wins the Champions League, or Aston Villa the Europa League. The permutations are as lengthy as they are complicated.
Predicted table
4th Liverpool 63 (rounded up)
5th Chelsea 63 (rounded up)
6th Man United 62 (rounded down)
Remaining fixtures for Liverpool, Chelsea and Man United
There are 12 games left in the Premier League, what might go in United’s favour is that they have a full week’s rest between games, aren’t in Europe and have already been knocked out of the FA Cup too. Liverpool and Chelsea could easily get distracted if they go deep in the Champions League.
These are the fixtures that each team has left:
Man United
Everton (A): Monday, 23 Feb at 20:00
Crystal Palace (H): Saturday, 28 Feb at 15:00
Newcastle United (A): Wednesday, 4 Mar at 20:15
Aston Villa (H): Sunday, 15 Mar at 14:00
Bournemouth (A): Friday, 20 Mar at 20:00
Leeds United (H): Saturday, 11 Apr at 15:00*
Chelsea (A): Saturday, 18 Apr at 15:00*
Brentford (H): Saturday, 25 Apr at 15:00*
Liverpool (H): Saturday, 2 May at 15:00*
Sunderland (A): Saturday, 9 May at 15:00*
Nottingham Forest (H): Sunday, 17 May at 15:00*
Brighton & Hove Albion (A): Sunday, 24 May at 16:00 (Final Day)
Chelsea
Burnley (H): Saturday, 21 Feb at 15:00
Arsenal (A): Sunday, 1 Mar at 16:30
Aston Villa (A): Wednesday, 4 Mar at 19:30
Newcastle United (H): Saturday, 14 Mar at 17:30
Everton (A): Saturday, 21 Mar at 17:30
Manchester City (H): Saturday, 11 Apr at 15:00
Manchester United (H): Saturday, 18 Apr at 15:00
Brighton & Hove Albion (A): Saturday, 25 Apr at 15:00
Nottingham Forest (H): Saturday, 2 May at 15:00
Liverpool (A): Saturday, 9 May at 15:00
Tottenham Hotspur (H): Sunday, 17 May at 15:00
Sunderland (A): Sunday, 24 May at 16:00 (Final Day)
Liverpool
Nottingham Forest (A): Sunday, 22 Feb at 14:00
West Ham United (H): Saturday, 28 Feb at 15:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers (A): Tuesday 3 Mar, 20:15
Tottenham Hotspur (H): Sunday 15 Mar, 16:30
Brighton & Hove Albion (A): Saturday 21 Mar, 12:30
Fulham (H): Saturday 11 Apr, 15:00
Everton (A): Saturday 18 Apr, 15:00
Crystal Palace (H): Saturday 25 Apr, 15:00
Manchester United (A): Saturday 2 May, 15:00
Chelsea (H): Saturday 9 May, 15:00
Aston Villa (A): Sunday 17 May, 15:00
Brentford (H): Sunday 24 May, 16:00 (Season Finale)
Continue Reading