The points Man United or Newcastle need to drop for Liverpool to finish in the top 4

Liverpool’s win at West Ham brought them closer to a European spot, but they are still counting on Man United or Newcastle losing points in the run-in.

It’s been seven years since Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League.

However, poor away form this season has massively let Jurgen Klopp’s side down and they now rely on others and themselves to finish in the top four.

Liverpool are currently seventh with 53 points from 32 games.

They are aiming to catch Newcastle and Man United, who are third and fourth respectively. Man United are seven points clear of the Reds, while Newcastle are still two points clear.

How many points can Liverpool score?

The Reds are currently enjoying one of their best runs this season – they are unbeaten in five games and have won their last three games.

If Liverpool won their remaining six games, their points tally would be 71.

That would have been enough for fourth place in six of the past 10 years – in the past 10 seasons, the fourth-place team has averaged 71.4 points.

However, Newcastle and Man United appear to be reaching that record this season. How many points do we need Newcastle or Man United?

In order not to live up to 71, the Newcastle 10 of a possible 18 points should still be available.

The Man United should now drop 11 points of 21 remaining.

Who should play our rivals?

Newcastle and Man United only need 12 and 14 points to ensure their place in the Champions League for the next season. Newcastle have six games and United seven to achieve this.

Those points would put them above 73, which is the number Brighton – who have played up to three games fewer than their surroundings – can still achieve if they win all of their games.

Like Liverpool, Brighton look unlikely to catch up. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have lost two of their last three league games.

A home advantage? Luckily for Liverpool, four of their remaining six games are at Anfield, with away games at Leicester and then Southampton on the final day.

If only home games counted, Liverpool would be fourth in the table, while away points alone would lift them to tenth.

Manchester United are likely looking weaker at the moment and could start to feel the pressure as they drop points in their next two games, those against Aston Villa and in-form Brighton.

They are also to play more away games than Liverpool and play the Manchester derby, in the FA Cup Final, six days after their last league game against Fulham at Old Trafford.

Liverpool’s remaining matches

Liverpool vs Tottenham – 30 avril, 16h30

Liverpool vs Fulham – 3 mai, 20h

Liverpool vs Brentford – 6 mai, 17h30

Leicester v Liverpool – 15 mai, 20h

Liverpool vs Aston Villa – 20 mai, 15h

Southampton contre. Liverpool – May 28, 4:30 p.m.

* Every hour BST.

It would take a huge leap for Liverpool to catch Man United or Newcastle, with the chances they will need to win the remaining six games to have any hope.

Either way, Klopp has admitted that his side will ‘take what we have’ when it comes to European football next season.

Also.. 

Ibrahima Konate, Diogo Jota – Liverpool fitness and injury updates ahead of Tottenham

In his last four games, Klopp has made just one change to his starting lineup, leaving Konate out for Wednesday’s 2-1 win over West Ham.

The Frenchman has been ruled out as a precaution, after a series of minor problems in recent weeks, with Joel Matip coming on and scoring the decisive goal in East London.

Liverpool now have a run of four games in 11 days and there is the possibility of more substitutions against Tottenham on Sunday.
One could be enforced, with Jota taking a mid-week punch, but while he provides an update on his squad, Klopp insisted he “should be fine”.

‘Ibou is coming back. I think Naby will train today. I haven’t received the medical report yet, but probably,” he told reporters.
“Nobody else. We have a couple of players outside, everyone knows them.

“But what’s more, since the last game … Diogo has had a blow to his back, but he should be fine.
“We will see how it develops. Other than that, we should be fine.

If Jota is not deemed fully fit – or if it is decided not to risk a player who has started in each of the last seven games – Darwin Nunez is an option to replace.

With Konate also returning, the manager faces an important decision whether to reinstate his first-choice centre-back or reward Matip’s fine display against West Ham.