Liverpool remain in the hunt for Champions League qualification with just six Premier League games left, and Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Chelsea could prove a huge boost for the Reds
Liverpool’s route to Champions League qualification has become clearer after Manchester United potentially did their fiercest rival a significant favour. The Reds are in line to secure the fifth and final berth at Europe’s elite competition with just six Premier League matches remaining.
Their last half a dozen games start with Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Everton. A maiden visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium could prove pivotal to Arne Slot’s team’s aspirations of achieving a top-five finish.
Two of their other challengers for Champions League places met on Saturday. United emerged victorious after winning 1-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
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Matheus Cunha netted the decisive goal just before the interval to bolster Michael Carrick’s team’s standing in third. That positions them as favourites amongst themselves, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea to claim one of the three remaining spots in the top five.
Arsenal and Manchester City are virtually guaranteed the top two positions. Matters deteriorated even further for the Blues, who witnessed Estevao hobble off early in the opening half to add to their woes.
Liam Rosenior’s outfit has now triumphed in just one of its previous eight league fixtures. It only intensifies the scrutiny on their current head coach.
It is an unusual circumstance, though, where a victory for United could be positive news for Liverpool. They now sit six points ahead of the Reds ahead of tomorrow’s Merseyside derby,
Chelsea’s inability to claim any points has bolstered Slot’s side’s Champions League prospects. Brentford also dropped points earlier in the day following a draw with Fulham.
Liverpool maintain a four-point cushion over its closest rivals for the top five, while holding a game in hand over most of them. The worst-case scenario for the Reds at the weekend’s conclusion would see that gap narrowed to two points should Everton triumph.
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A victory for the visitors would put them seven points clear of Chelsea. That would represent an enormous boost ahead of what promises to be a crucial final month for Liverpool.
The Reds face United, Chelsea and Villa in successive fixtures in May. They will almost certainly determine whether the Reds can secure Champions League qualification.
As it stands, Liverpool would need to accumulate 12 points from their remaining six matches to guarantee a place in the top five. That picture could shift once more over the coming days, with Chelsea due to return to action on Tuesday at Brighton.
