Man United's victory over Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final gives Liverpool more motivation in the battle for tickets to the European Cup
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag
You don't often see Liverpool fans cheering for Manchester United.
And, in fact, they probably weren't around on Sunday as the Old Trafford side battled for an FA Cup final with a penalty shootout win over Brighton and Hove Albion at Wembley.
But the failure of the Seagulls was actually good news for the Red Devils. Well, at least in terms of improving their European chances next season.
Seven slots are available for English teams. Teams that finish in the top four of the Premier League are guaranteed Champions League spots after United were knocked out of the Europa League by Sevilla on Thursday night, erasing the prospect of Erik ten Hag's side finishing outside the top four but winning one of the tournaments. qualifying for the Champions League as Europa League champions.
At the start of the campaign, one place in the Europa League went to the fifth-placed team in the Premier League, another went to the FA Cup winners. The winner of the League Cup is awarded a place in the Europa Conference League.
However, with United and other FA Cup finalists Manchester City finishing in the top five, this means the sixth-placed team will also be awarded a Europa League spot with the team finishing second. five - both went straight to the group stage. .
And since United have won the League Cup, the Europa Conference League spot is about to go to the seventh-placed team, as was the case with West Ham United last year, who reached the semi-finals of the tournament. this season. Liverpool, of course, still have hopes of a highly unlikely top-four finish, although that would realistically require Jurgen Klopp's men to win their remaining seven games and either Newcastle United or Manchester United to win. suffered a miserable defeat, due to the Red Devils having 9 points. out of the Champions League positions.
But that sixth place would most likely secure a Europa League spot which has cemented their chances of a European place next season while avoiding the Europa Conference League, which qualifying teams will have to contend with. play-off round at the end of August.
The Red Devils are currently seventh, one point behind Aston Villa and two points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, but have been playing one game behind both and have a superior goal difference. They will also welcome both teams to Anfield in the coming weeks.
That means regardless of whether Brighton - who is one point behind Liverpool but two games behind - goes on for the rest of the season, the Reds are in control of their own Europa League destiny - starting against West Ham on Wednesday night.
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