Liverpool host Chelsea needing victory to secure Champions League spot
Liverpool can secure Champions League qualification this weekend when they host Chelsea at Anfield, provided results elsewhere fall in their favour.
Arne Slot’s side remain in control of their own destiny despite suffering a 3-2 defeat against fierce rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford last time out.
The Merseyside club sit fourth in the Premier League table, leading fifth-placed Aston Villa only on goal difference.
However, fifth place will be sufficient to reach Europe’s elite club competition next season due to the strong performance of English clubs in continental tournaments.
Qualification scenarios explained
The six-time European champions currently possess 58 points and require four more from their remaining three fixtures to guarantee a top-five finish.
Victory over the Blues on home soil will be enough to seal qualification if sixth-placed Bournemouth fail to beat Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
A draw at Anfield could also suffice under a highly specific set of circumstances involving their closest challengers.
For a single point to be enough, Fulham must defeat the Cherries, title-chasing Manchester City need to beat Brentford, and Brighton must drop points against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Overcoming recent setbacks
The recent defeat in Manchester capped a frustrating period for the Anfield outfit, but they were offered a reprieve when Villa suffered a home loss to relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur.
Holding a comfortable six-point advantage over Bournemouth, it would require a significant collapse for the current fourth-placed side to fall out of the coveted top five.
A return to the Champions League would provide a vital boost for the Dutch manager as he concludes his maiden campaign in English football.