Final Liverpool fixture compared to Man United and Newcastle as Champions League chances clear

Liverpool have taken the race for the Premier League top four further than anyone could have imagined a few weeks ago as we enter the final week of the season

Liverpool’s season draws to a close, with just one game remaining after their final home game against Aston Villa.

The Reds closed the curtain on another season at Anfield with a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. Roberto Firmino’s late equalizer saved a point, putting the race for the top four into the final week of the season.

And it proved to be an emotional afternoon on Merseyside as Liverpool fans bid farewell to Firmino, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, with the foursome confirming they will be leaving the club this summer.

But before that there is one last game for Jürgen Klopp’s men, and much is still to come. The Reds are still chasing a place in the top four and would qualify for the Champions League next season. To do this, however, they must hope for slips on one of the two sides directly above them.

Newcastle and Manchester United have their fates in their hands and are favorites for their places at the top of the European table, but the race for the top four has gone much further than anyone could have imagined a few weeks ago.

Liverpool will watch with interest as their two rivals play their penultimate match next week.

Newcastle can secure a place in the top four if they win something against Leicester at St James’ Park on Monday, and could relegate the Foxes at the same time. It seems likely that the Magpies will play in the Champions League next season, leaving Manchester United with the best hope of a Liverpool blunder.

Erik ten Hag’s side ends its campaign with two home games following its win over Bournemouth, starting with Chelsea on Thursday before Fulham travels to Old Trafford, with the Reds needing Manchester United to lose both of their games if they’re to overtake them.

Liverpool.com says: It looks as though Liverpool will be in the Europa League next season, although it has taken the race for the top four down to the final week, which is to its credit given how desperate the situation looked just a few weeks ago.

Klopp and his men will still hold out some hope they can sneak past their great rivals Manchester United on the final day, but in the end, they gave themselves too much to do with their performances earlier in the season. Regardless of where Liverpool finishes, all focus should be on the rebuild in the transfer window this summer.

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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.

Who will finish in the top seven?

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