With less than two weeks left of the Premier League season, Liverpool’s outside hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League hang in the balance.
A 3-0 win over Leicester City on Monday night lifted the Reds into fifth place, one point behind Newcastle United and Manchester United. But he played more games than the Magpies and the Red Devils.
As a result, already guaranteed a top-six finish and Europa League qualification, they need at least a game between Newcastle and Manchester United to win only one of their remaining three games, and draw their last two. Can win the game Secure your unexpected top 4.
Newcastle plays Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Thursday, then Leicester City on Monday before finishing the season at Chelsea. Meanwhile, United travel to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday before taking on Chelsea on Thursday, 25 May, before finishing at home to Fulham.
Liverpool can make the most of points from their remaining games against Aston Villa at home and have already knocked out Southampton, but are still one of the two teams above them with the points needed to top the Reds Downsizing would be a big deal. demand. Four finishes are available.
Disappointingly, some fans may wonder whether Jurgen Klopp’s team had a backdoor to qualify for next year’s Champions League. For example, if Manchester City wins the tournament this season, will England be able to qualify for the 5th qualifier? Alas, the answer is no.
As a result, unless Liverpool relegate at least one of Newcastle United and Manchester United, they will play in the Europa League next season.
In fact, given the better competition, it looks difficult for the Reds to qualify for the Champions League again next season.
Pep Guardiola’s domineering Man City will, as ever, strengthen their squad, while Arsenal and Newcastle United look set to enjoy the riches of Champions League football currently on a wasteland. Meanwhile, Manchester United could receive financial backing from their new owners this summer, while Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea will be eyeing their new manager back in the transfer market.
Robert de Zerbi’s Brighton side have edged closer to a top-four berth this year and they will have enough bankroll of their own to pay for high-profile departures. It’s too early to call him a Champions League prospect, but the Seagulls will look to build on their impressive campaign this year.
Of course, Liverpool will do better themselves, at least with plans for a midfield revamp this summer. Alexis McAllister, Mason Mount and Ryan Gravenburch are all interested, with plans for additional finishing projects.
As a result, the race for the Champions League football is about to intensify in the next few years. So it’s also good that fifth place doesn’t qualify for the European Cup yet, but that could change soon.
The Champions League format will change from the 2024/25 season, expanding the 32 team tournament to 36 clubs. The traditional group stage would end and all 36 teams would be placed in a league table, with each qualifying team playing 8 matches (4 home and 4 away).
The first to eighth placed teams automatically advance to the round of 16, and the knockout stage thereafter remains the same as the current system. Meanwhile, the teams finishing between 9th and 24th place will play a two-stage playoff with the eight winners advancing to the Round of 16.
So how will the 4 new entrants be decided?
An additional team will qualify via the “Champions Path” qualification path which includes leagues outside the top 10 of the UEFA country coefficient. Meanwhile, the Federation of European Football (UEFA) 5th place league will also get an additional first place.
France currently holds their place, with the top two teams currently progressing to the Champions League group stage and the third-placed team going through to the third qualifying round. Under the new format, the top three teams would automatically qualify for the new league format, and unlike the previous Europa League group stage, the fourth-placed team would advance to the qualifiers.
The last two points are reserved for the two countries with the highest coefficient score in the current season. Should the new format be introduced next year instead of 2024/25, England and Italy would earn fifth qualifier places in the Champions League as a result. Meanwhile, in three of the last four campaigns, a Premier League side would have been given one of the extra slots as a result.
Liverpool’s transitional campaign came too early to benefit from a change, resulting in a default 5th-place finish. Qualification for the Champions League.
And the prospect of an extra place for the English club could help them progress next season, but assuming the Premier League squads are strong again, a Europa League win with the European Tier 2 champions still in reach . Champions League Group Stage in a new format.
But Klopp will inevitably be hoping for a return to the top as the 2023/24 season nears its end, competing for a title and not just Champions League qualification.