Liverpool have put themselves in a commanding position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, but the fixture list serves a nervous reminder that a top-five finish is certainly not a formality.
As of Wednesday morning, the Reds are fifth in the Premier League table with a five-point lead over Brighton, who’ve played a game more, with a succession of teams as far down as Fulham in 12th still in the mix for European football next term.
When looking at sportsbooks for betting on football, it’d seem that Arne Slot’s side are effectively home and dry in the race for Champions League qualification, but their run-in to the season is a daunting one.
Let’s take a look at Liverpool’s five remaining matches between now and the end of May.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (25 April)
These teams have met four times in the past year, and the Reds haven’t won any of them. Their last home win over the Eagles was almost four years ago, so it’s about time that unenviable record was put to bed.
However, Oliver Glasner’s side have been resurgent of late, taking eight points from the last 12 available in the Premier League and advancing to the semi-finals of the Conference League, and they could yet get back into Europe again via domestic placing.
Manchester United v Liverpool (3 May)
This is a fixture which needs no introduction. The Reds cruised to a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford on their previous visit in September 2024, but that was two managers ago for United, who’d love nothing more than to dent their arch-rivals’ Champions League hopes.
Michael Carrick’s side could be mathematically qualified for that competition by the time they host Liverpool on the Bank Holiday weekend. How sweet it’d be if LFC made them wait for it by avenging their defeat at Anfield back in October.
Liverpool v Chelsea (9 May)
What looked a potential straight shootout for the final Champions League berth not so long ago could instead be the day that, if all goes well, Liverpool secure a top-five finish whilst ending Chelsea’s increasingly faint hopes once and for all.
It’s not unthinkable that the Blues could sack Liam Rosenior before then if his team continue to flounder, with speculation over his future growing amid a run of five straight Premier League defeats without scoring.
Aston Villa v Liverpool (17 May)
The hope is that Liverpool may be qualified for the Champions League by the time they go to Villa Park in mid-May; or if not that their hosts will have secured their top-five place and be preparing for a Europa League final the following Wednesday.
If that is the case, we wouldn’t be surprised if Unai Emery rested a few key players ahead of their shot at European silverware in Istanbul, a scenario which could play into the Reds’ hands if they’re still battling to finish inside the top five by then.
Liverpool v Brentford (24 May)
It’ll be an emotional day at Anfield as Kopites say goodbye to Mo Salah and Andy Robertson, but could there still be a Champions League place on the line for Liverpool on the final day of the top-flight season?
From their current position, the Reds should be able to dispel any lingering fears of missing out on the top five by then, but a tough run of fixtures – and the form of chasers such as Brighton and Bournemouth – could see things becoming a bit uncomfortable for Slot’s side.
Brentford could be in with a shot of qualifying for Europe themselves, if they can turn their recent succesion of draws into a few wins over the coming weeks.