Here’s Why Liverpool Have Better Chances Of Champions League Qualification Than Their Rivals
Liverpool did no good to their chances of finishing in the top four of the Premier League when they played out a 0-0 draw against Southampton at Anfield on Sunday.
It was the 4th occasion in the ongoing campaign that Jurgen Klopp’s men had failed to score against the Saints – once in the reverse league fixture and twice in two legs of the EFL Cup semi-finals. The result, though it put Liverpool back into 3rd position, opens up a window for the clubs below them to oust them from the top four.
The Reds have played 36 games already and sit on 70 points, while 4th and 5th placed Manchester City and Manchester United have a game each in hand and Arsenal, who are at 6th place, have two games in hand. While the odds are evenly balanced, here are 3 reasons why Liverpool stand a chance of finishing in the top four come the end of the season:
Return of Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge To Full Fitness
Liverpool have been hit with a spate of injuries at the business end of the season that has had a bad effect on their run-in. Leading goalscorer Sadio Mane has been ruled out for the season while captain Jordan Henderson is unlikely to feature in the remaining games as well.
However, the return of Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge has come as a huge boost for the Reds. Lallana has been one of the best performers for Liverpool over the course of the season and has the ability to take his team over the finishing line in the final stages.
Sturridge, on the other hand, may not have been in the best of forms, but his performance coming on from the bench against Southampton will have come as a good confidence booster for the player himself and Klopp too.
Two Winnable Fixtures
Liverpool have two more games left between now and the end of the season. They play Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United away at the London Olympic Stadium before playing hosts to the already relegated Middlesbrough on the final day.
West Ham may have managed to defeat Tottenham Hotspur this past weekend to derail Spurs’ title hopes, but they have been struggling in recent weeks. Liverpool are more than capable of getting three points against the Hammers. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, are set for the drop back to the Championship as they lost 3-0 to Chelsea last night. The Reds may have struggled against opponents from the lower half of the table, but Boro have received confirmation over their drop back to the second tier and may not put up a huge fight.
Not So Straight-Forward Run-Ins For Competitors
While Liverpool have a pretty much straight-forward run towards the end of the season but the same cannot be said about the chasing pack of Manchester United and Arsenal.
Manchester City also have it fairly easy as they take on Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion at home, before paying a visit to the Vicarage Road on the last day for an encounter against Watford.
United, on the other hand, will play the UEFA Europa League semi-final, before two away games against Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton – no easy fixtures by any measure. They end their season with a home game against Crystal Palace, which could prove to be another banana skin, considering that the Eagles will be fighting for their survival in the league.
Arsenal may have two games more to play than Liverpool and do stand a chance of replacing them in the top four provided they win all their games and Liverpool drop points in one of their two matches. But, it isn’t an easy road for them considering that they will play Southampton and Stoke City away. Sunderland at home should be an easy three points, but Everton on the last day will also be a tricky game.
Liverpool should be pretty confident about their chances considering that they have a relatively easier run-in.