Champions League qualification for Liverpool could be just three games away after a dramatic win against Everton on Sunday
Arne Slot's Liverpool are closer to securing Champions League football for next season after beating Everton
Arne Slot's Liverpool are closer to securing Champions League football for next season after beating Everton(Image: (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
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Liverpool have taken a huge step towards qualifying for next season's Champions League after netting a last-minute winner against Everton in the Merseyside Derby. Virgil Van Dijk headed home in the 100th minute to claim all three points and hand Arne Slot's side a major boost in the race to secure a top-five finish.
Just five games of the 2025/26 season are left on the schedule and to secure Champions League football for next season, Liverpool now require nine points.
That tally may not even be needed however, with Chelsea continuing to drop points which has seen Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton and Everton - despite losing to their rivals - close the gap.
It was an action-packed first half at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a chaotic few minutes seeing an Iliman Ndiaye strike ruled out for offside before Mohamed Salah opened the scoring after Cody Gakpo's defence-splitting through ball.
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The Blues equalised through Beto early into the second-half when he turned home Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's low cross. Giorgi Mamardashvili was injured during that incident which saw Freddie Woodman introduced for his Premier League debut.
The 29-year-old was rarely tested by Everton in the final 30 minutes with Liverpool also not having too many attacks in search of a winner until Van Dijk guided Dominik Szoboszlai's corner past Jordan Pickford.
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Liverpool would have remained fifth regardless of the result following the outcome of Saturday's games with all of Fulham, Brentford, Brighton and Chelsea dropping points. The latter were beaten by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge which actually did Liverpool a favour.
The Blues, who sit in sixth, are currently their closest challengers with the gap between the two stretching to five points. Liam Rosenior's side can close that back down to just two before the champions play again as their fixture against Brighton that was scheduled for next weekend has been brought forward to this coming Tuesday.
Aston Villa, who are above Liverpool, also struck late to win a chaotic seven-goal thriller against Sunderland with Tammy Abraham on target in stoppage time after they conceded twice in the final minutes of normal time.
Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring Liverpool's winner against Everton
Virgil van Dijk scored Liverpool's winner against Everton
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Unai Emery's side have therefore remained three points clear of Liverpool with the two teams still needing to face off at Villa Park.
That clash is not for a few weeks however, with focus first on games against Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Chelsea before that.
Sealing a spot amongst Europe's elite can be secured even before the match against Villa with wins in their next three fixtures enough to guarantee a top-five finish. The Premier League clinched its fifth Champions League spot courtesy of the European Performance Standings when Arsenal beat Sporting CP in their quarter-final.