Final Liverpool fixtures compared to Newcastle and Man United after Leicester defeat as Champions League hope increases

With Liverpool beating Leicester, they are just two games away with Champions League football still in play. That’s how things stack up against the competition.

Liverpool patiently fought their way through the Leicester defense before opening the doors and eventually secured their seventh successive victory. This has put even more pressure on the Champions League rivals who are approaching the end of the season.
At kick-off, Liverpool had played the same number of games as Manchester United and Newcastle, four points adrift of both. They may be down a point, but the two rivals now have a game in hand – although that leaves three more potential banana peels each as they seek to secure their final two Champions League places. For Liverpool, the two remaining matches are a mixed bag. Aston Villa is set to present quite a challenge, with Unai Emery still looking for an unlikely European place for himself. But top him and the reward is a seemingly easy assignment against Southampton, with the Saints already relegated.

There’s no denying Liverpool’s hopes dwindle with every game and the time to sneak into the top four for the first time this season is seriously running out. But the remaining matches for each of his rivals prove that a Champions League place is not yet out of the realm of possibility. The next fixture for Newcastle is Brighton. For those who are somehow still in doubt about the Seagulls’ credentials, the seemingly title-deciding 3-0 win against Arsenal should be proof of the threat Roberto De Zerbi’s men will pose. A defeat in this would make things very interesting and ensure Liverpool can make it to the final day.
Hosting Leicester looks easier on paper, but the Foxes remain embroiled in a relegation battle and will fight for their lives. A win against Newcastle became even more important for them. Just like against Leeds, point losses are possible.

Finally, it’s an away trip to Chelsea to end the season. If it has indeed gone down to the last day, there are simpler assignments, dire form of Frank Lampard’s team notwithstanding.

The outlook for Manchester United dropping at least two more points is a bit bleaker. Bournemouth had a very reasonable season; Dominic Solanke has had a good personal campaign and could do his old team a favor. But the Cherries have nothing to gain, so this next trip should probably net three points despite Erik ten Hag’s poor away form.

Then there are two games left at Old Trafford to complete the season. Chelsea have another chance to make an impact in the race they long retired from before another newly promoted top flight at Fulham is tasked with making the difference. It’s by no means unthinkable, but Liverpool can’t count on it.

And that more or less sums up the end of the season. Liverpool must assume it is destined for the Europa League — but see out the last two matches, and anything remains possible.

Also..

Leicester 0-3 Liverpool: Jones pull Reds to Europe – 7 wins in a row!

A 3-0 victory at Leicester guaranteed European football for Liverpool next season, with two scousers coming from the academy for a seventh consecutive season.

Leicester 0-3 Liverpool

Goals

Jones 33′ (Assist – Salah)

Jones 36′ (Assist – Salah)

Alexander-Arnold 71′ (Submission – Salah)

Against a side on the brink of relegation, Liverpool played in front of a raucous and enthusiastic King Power crowd, also clearly influenced by referee Craig Pawson.

It took time for the Reds to find their rhythm and Leicester instead enjoyed an away ball while keeping a low profile and relying on the creativity of James Maddison.

However, Liverpool began to gain momentum as Trent Alexander-Arnold looked for a passing key, although Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz both squandered early chances.

The first goal came courtesy of a brilliant team move and an outside defense from Wout Faes – the defender who scored two own goals at Anfield in December – when Curtis Jones touched Mohamed Salah’s cross. Jones didn’t wait long for his second pass either, three minutes later another ball from Salah landed in Scouser’s box, giving him a clever turn and an emphatic finish.

HT: Leicester 0-2 Liverpool

Leicester’s confidence was badly shaken by that quick double and Liverpool remained in command at the start of the half of the season, with Alexander-Arnold dictating with ease.

However, Alisson had to parry with his fingertips to save the brilliant Harvey Barnes, while luckily Ibrahima Konaté had Jamie Vardy’s number in the right channel.

For more than ten minutes, the King Power played “Sim Senhor”, a poignant tribute to Roberto Firmino, who sat admiringly behind the bench.

The whole thing was only stopped by a superb shot from Alexander-Arnold, who saw Salah deflect a free-kick with his heel into the barrel and scored a powerful bending try past the unfortunate Daniel Iversen. The victory, which turned out to be a procession, guarantees at least sixth place in the Premier League, which is why Liverpool have already qualified for next season’s Europa League.

The hope now is that they can take it one step further and still finish in the top four.

TIA Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold

Referee: Craig Pawson

Leicester: Iversen; Ricardo (Thomas 68′), Faes, Evans (Souttar 89′), Chestnuts; Ndidi (Daka 61′), Tielemans, Soumare; Maddison, Barnes (Tete 61′), Vardy

Unused Substitutes: Smithies, Kristiansen, Amartey, Mendy, Praet

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson (Milner 74′), Jones (Carvalho 84′); Salah (Elliott 88′), Diaz (Jota 74′), Gakpo

Unused: Kelleher, Gomez, Matip, Tsimikas, Arthur

Next match: Aston Villa (C) – Premier League – Saturday 20 May, 3.00pm (BST)