Explained: Possible Liverpool vs Bournemouth play-off for Champions League qualification
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Liverpool will have to secure Champions League football on the final day with plenty of scenarios that could yet play out for qualification. Image Credits: Imago ImagesArsenal’s 22-year wait for a Premier League title ended on Tuesday night – and it was Bournemouth who handed them the crown.The Cherries held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium, ending Pep Guardiola’s hopes of keeping the title race alive heading into the final day.Junior Kroupi gave the hosts a deserved lead late in the first half with a stunning curling effort, before Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time equaliser that proved too little, too late for Guardiola’s side.For Bournemouth, the draw still represented a landmark moment.The Cherries have now guaranteed European football for the first time in their history – a remarkable achievement for a club of their size.But Andoni Iraola’s side are not done dreaming.
The Champions League is still very much on the table, and the picture heading into Sunday’s final day is genuinely complicated.Liverpool currently sit fifth, the last Champions League qualifying spot, three points ahead of Bournemouth but with a significantly superior goal difference.In the most straightforward scenario, Arne Slot’s side simply need to beat Brentford at Anfield to confirm their place.For Bournemouth to leapfrog them on goal difference, they would need to beat Nottingham Forest and Liverpool would need to lose — and even then, the Cherries would require a swing of at least six goals.However, the BBC has outlined a far more extraordinary scenario – one that could end in a play-off. IIf Liverpool lost 1-0 to Brentford and Bournemouth won 5-0 against Forest, both sides would finish level on points, goals scored, goals conceded, and head-to-head record, meaning a one-off play-off match would be required to separate them.There is also a third pathway to the Champions League for Bournemouth that does not even require Liverpool to slip up.Should Aston Villa win the Europa League final against Freiburg on Wednesday. the additional Champions League spot earned through England’s European performance would be passed down to sixth place.If Liverpool beat Brentford, Villa lose at City, and Bournemouth avoid defeat against Forest – with Brighton failing to win against Manchester United – the Cherries would claim sixth and Champions League football with it.It sets up a fascinating final day with plenty at stake for Liverpool fans watching on nervously.
Bournemouth UEFA Champions League