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Liverpool are well in the hunt to land Champions League football and the race is predicted to go down to the wire.
Somehow Liverpool have found themselves within striking distance of third place with 11 games of the Premier League season still to go.
The importance of Champions League football and the finances that it brings makes qualifying a huge factor in the type of business that can been done in the summer transfer window. Currently sixth on goal difference, Liverpool are on the same number of points with Chelsea and Man United with the latter facing Everton on Monday Night Football.
Liverpool close the gap in Champions League race
Aston Villa are in no-man’s land, not close enough to threaten Man City and Arsenal, but not far enough away from the chasing pack to be considered safe yet either. Whoever goes on a run of games could be the team that nicks it.
Liverpool have yet to find any consistency, however, Chelsea and United are in a similar position. Just as they look like they have turned a corner they hit another speed bump. Trying to predict who is going to come out on top is not an easy business but the boffins at Opta and their algorithms have given it a bash.
Opta predicts Premier League table
First of all, they predict Villa to hold on and for the three below them to not make up anymore ground. Given their issues with profit and sustainability regulations, they will be grateful for the extra money.
In sixth place, Chelsea on 61 points gave a nervous wait to see what European competition that they will qualify for with English sides all doing well on the continent this season. The benefits won’t expand to six Champions League teams though. Unless the winners of this season’s tournament come from England for both the premier competition and the Europa League.
Man United are tipped to finish in fifth place on62 points just one above Chelsea and two behind Liverpool who Opta claim are predicted to finish in fourth place and guarantee themselves a Champions League place without having to rely on England getting any extra places. What will determine whether or not the season is a success or not will be if Arne Slot can secure silverware in his second season. An FA Cup, and Champions League double wouldn’t be a bad way to follow up winning the Premier League in his first campaign.
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