Liverpool comeback denies Manchester United Champions League spot after Aston Villa draw

Manchester United and Newcastle are yet to secure a place in next season’s Champions League after Roberto Firmino scored a dramatic late equalizer for Liverpool against Aston Villa

Manchester United and Newcastle will have to wait to secure a Champions League place for next season after Roberto Firmino kept Liverpool in the running with a late equalizer against Aston Villa.

Liverpool had lobbied United and Newcastle to snap a seven match winning streak but appeared to falter against Aston Villa. United beat Bournemouth 1-0 in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday and looked four points clear of Liverpool going into the Reds’ final game of the season last weekend.

Jacob Ramsey’s first-half strike and Cody Gakpo’s equalizing goal set Villa on course for a 1–0 win. But Firmino came off the bench to score from Mohamed Salah’s cross in the 90th minute to ensure Liverpool still had an outside chance of finishing in the top four. United and Newcastle remain three points ahead of Liverpool with two games remaining meaning both clubs need just one more point to overcome their challenge.

After Ollie Watkins sent a penalty wide, Villa took the lead through Ramsey midway through the first half. Jurgen Klopp’s side thought they had equalized with Gakpo, but VAR ruled him out for offside against Virgil van Dijk in the run-up.

Klopp was absent on the sideline following a two-game suspension, but his coaching staff were furious at the decision, which came after referee John Brooks watched replays on the pitch monitor.

Casemiro’s goal helped Manchester United win at Bournemouth (Ash Donelon/Getty Images)

After a miserable first half of the season, Liverpool were good at reacting and putting pressure on United and Newcastle, but their dreams of returning to the Champions League now hang in the balance. They are also set to play in the Europa League next season, securing fifth place thanks to a five-point deficit over Villa.

Casemiro scored the game’s only goal at the Vitality Stadium, with David de Gea making some excellent second-half saves to secure the points. On the other hand, things did not go as planned for Liverpool at Anfield.

United and Newcastle both have 69 points with two games remaining and are now unassailable by Liverpool, who have 66 points and face Southampton in the final game of the season next weekend.

Eddie Howe’s side will meet Leicester at St James’ Park on Monday before ending their season at Chelsea on Sunday. They are currently third on goal difference, ahead of United fourth.

United host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Thursday and face Fulham at home at the weekend before facing Manchester City in the FA Cup final on June 3.

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Champions League: Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle Which Premier League teams can secure European football?

Last Updated 59 minutes ago59 minutes ago.From the European football section

Newcastle are in pole position for the Champions League for the first time since 2003

Newcastle and Manchester United are now both just one point away from securing a place in next season’s Champions League.

Manchester City and Arsenal are guaranteed the top four spots, while Magpies and the Red Devils are on course to join them after Saturday’s results.

Liverpool were late finishers in the top four, but their run of seven successive Premier League wins was ended by a draw against Aston Villa, allowing Manchester United to extend their lead over their rivals to three points with a victory at Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Newcastle took a big step towards Champions League qualification with victory over Brighton on Thursday: they remain third, three points ahead of Liverpool. The Reds’ hopes are now hanging by a thread as they have played one game more than both Newcastle and Manchester United.

The teams that finish in the top seven will secure some form of European football next season – BBC Sport is watching how things play out.

Who can finish in the Champions League?

Manchester City, who could win the Champions League this season, and Arsenal, with 85 and 81 points respectively, finish in the top two.

City win the league if they beat Chelsea on Sunday (4pm BST) or if Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Third-placed Newcastle and fourth-placed Manchester United, both on 69 points, need just one point from their last two games to secure a place in the top four.

Liverpool are three points off fifth place with one game to go.

The Reds trailed by 12 points on 9 April, but their recent resurgence has kept them in the mix, while Manchester United have won just two of their last four games.

If Manchester City win the Champions League, whoever finishes fifth in the Premier League will not qualify for next year’s competition.

The only circumstance where five English teams can qualify for the Champions League is if a Premier League club wins the competition but then fails to finish in the top four. And the Europa League?

Teams finishing fifth and sixth in the Premier League are guaranteed a place in the Europa League as FA Cup finalists Manchester City and Manchester United finish in the top six.

Liverpool are currently fifth – eight points ahead of sixth-placed Brighton, who have two games to play. Aston Villa are behind the Seagulls on goal difference and Tottenham are another point behind.

“Liverpool and Brighton remain the teams most likely to play in the Europa League group stage next season, according to the Euro Club Index,” said Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at Nielsen’s Gracenote.

What about the Europa Conference League? The team that finishes seventh will progress to the Europa Conference League play-offs, as Carabao Cup winners Manchester United are guaranteed a Europa League place via the league or FA Cup.

That spot will almost certainly go to one of the teams already named in the battle for a Europa League spot. However, Brentford are also still in the mix after beating Tottenham on Saturday.

Aston Villa are currently seventh, one point ahead of Spurs, with the Bees a further point back in ninth.

How can there be eight English teams in Europe next season? While West Ham failed to qualify for a place in the first half of the game, they reached the Europa Conference League final.

If they win this competition, they will secure a place in the Europa League group stage next season.

The Hammers will face Italian side Fiorentina in the final in Prague on June 7 – and are the easy favorites with a 56 per cent chance of winning the competition, according to Nielsen’s Gracenote.

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