The Reds host Chelsea on Sunday looking to secure a place in the top five with two games remaining of the Premier League. Ahead of the game, Slot acknowledged the financial impact of a top-five finish
11:01, 09 May 2026
A dejected Arne Slot manager / head coach of Liverpool applauds the fans at full time during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 3, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom
Arne Slot has acknowledged the impact of securing a Champions League place(Image: Getty Images)
Arne Slot has acknowledged Liverpool’s qualification for the Champions League would have a huge impact on the club’s financial outlook, as the Reds begin to make plans for the summer transfer window.
A terrible season for the reigning champions could be salvaged to some small extent if Liverpool achieves a top-five finish, which would secure a Champions League spot.
A win for the Reds, coupled with a Bournemouth defeat, would guarantee Liverpool’s place in the competition next season and invariably make Anfield a more attractive proposition for potential summer signings. Regardless of Bournemouth’s result at Fulham, a Liverpool win over Chelsea would all but secure a Champions League place.
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Writing in his pre-match notes, Slot said it is important to build on a run of three wins in four in the final week of the campaign.
“As things stand going into today's game, we have the opportunity to take another step towards our objective of achieving Champions League qualification for a second successive season,” the Dutchman stated in the matchday program.
“The best way for us to ensure that this happens, of course, is by taking the results of others out of the equation by taking care of our own business.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Slot wants Liverpool to end a disappointing season on a positive note(Image: Getty Images)
“Our fate is in our own hands. We have no need to rely on anyone else or to hope that fate might conspire in our favour. We just have to get the job done.
“This has to be our mindset and we should also be aiming to take as many points as we possibly can from our final three matches, particularly after the disappointment of losing at Old Trafford last weekend after three very good wins against Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace.”
Clearly, securing a Champions League place would be a weight off Slot’s mind, especially given his future at Anfield may be under scrutiny were the Reds to miss out.
Calum McFarlane
Liverpool hosts Chelsea in the penultimate match of the season(Image: 2026 Robin Jones)
“As I said earlier, our focus can only be on ourselves and finishing as strongly as we possibly can,” the Liverpool boss continued.
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“This is a time of change for us as a club and the best way of coming through it as strongly as we would want to is by sticking together and ensuring that the building blocks are in place not just for our remaining games of this season but also for the challenges that lie ahead.
“The reality is that any progress that we make now will stand us in good stead for next season and the possibility of Champions League qualification is clearly part of this picture.
“From a financial perspective for the club and from a sporting point of view for the team, we know the importance of finishing in the top five and that is why it is always a priority.”