What Liverpool need for Champions League qualification after Brighton result
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SportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool may still have work to do if they are to secure Champions League qualification for next seasonAnd then there was one. Only Bournemouth can now prevent Liverpool from qualifying for next season's Champions League after the latest round of Premier League fixtures this weekend.The Reds, who presently stand in fifth place in the final qualification berth, could have been overtaken by Brighton on goal difference had they lost their closing match at home to Brentford next Sunday and the Seagulls were victorious in their final two games.However, the South Coast side are no longer a threat after they were beaten 1-0 at Leeds United on Sunday afternoon despite dominating the match.Brighton, who end the season at home to Manchester United, can now at most finish on 56 points which is three fewer than Liverpool's present total of 59.READ MORE: Xabi Alonso has given game away over Liverpool manager changeAnd Arne Slot's side could now qualify for the Champions League without even kicking a ball, with Bournemouth in action against Manchester City on Tuesday.The Cherries are four points behind Liverpool and, given their inferior goal difference, would realistically need to win both at home to City and on the final day at Nottingham Forest.It means that should Bournemouth lose against City, Liverpool will be guaranteed a top-five berth.
A draw means it isn't mathematically done, while a Bournemouth win would take it to the last round of games where Liverpool would have to at least match the final-day result of Andoni Iraola's side.Remarkably, Liverpool could still finish fourth should they beat Brentford and Aston Villa, who thumped the Reds 4-2 on Friday, lose their last game at title-chasing City.And if Villa finish fifth but win the Europa League against Freiburg on Wednesday, a Champions League qualification berth will be awarded to whoever finishes in sixth which, at present, could be one of Bournemouth, Brighton or Chelsea.Despite being above Chelsea in the table, Brentford cannot qualify for the Champions League as the result they need to overhaul sixth-placed Bournemouth would come at the expense of giving Liverpool the win they require to potentially push Villa into fifth.FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB pageChoose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FC