Liverpool still face the huge task of qualifying for the Champions League, but there is evidence that they should keep their hopes up for a substantial recovery.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is hunting for a place in the Champions League
They can't, can they?
That has been the disappointing nature of much of Liverpool's campaign, the only time they broke into the top four was long ago after their opening draw against Fulham - and that's only because it was only the second game in the season. the entire Premier League. League. season with Arsenal having won against Crystal Palace the night before.
Since then, however, the Reds' efforts have been highlighted by their league standings this season, at 16th after their first three games, rising to fifth a few weeks later, hung around in the top half for most of the first half of the season. before falling to 10th in early February following a 0-3 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Even with a 6-1 win over Leeds United last month, Jurgen Klopp's men are still fighting for eighth place. But with a record win at Elland Road starting a six-match winning streak, Liverpool have now rekindled their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League that just a few weeks ago seemed like a dream. Of course, this will still be a rather difficult task. Newcastle United, with 65 points in third and Manchester United, one point ahead of the Reds with 63 in fourth, both have one more game to play,
And while Liverpool's last three games - against Aston Villa sandwiched between trips to Leicester City and relegation-threatened Southampton - are all winnable, the Red Devils almost certainly need maximum points to win. have a chance to make it to the top four.
But their main rivals faltered slightly in the finish line. Newcastle have been beaten in two of their last five, while United have dropped 16 points in their last nine Premier League games, including defeats to Brighton and West Ham United last week.
United have arguably the easiest encounters - none of their remaining four games have been against teams with plenty of chances, and three at home - with Newcastle having tougher duties. ahead of Leeds and Leicester are struggling as well as the home clash with Europe. Brighton, who were in the hunt for the top four until Monday's horrific 1-5 home loss to Everton. However, Liverpool can hope from recent history, with the teams successfully closing the gap in the last three games to finish in the Champions League qualifying spot.
Indeed, it was only last season that Tottenham Hotspur found themselves in a similar position to the Red Devils, four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with three games remaining. There was certainly an element of control as Spurs beat their neighbors 3-0 in the next game. But they still need the Gunners to lose to Newcastle in the penultimate game and Tottenham to win Burnley at home and go to Norwich City to win a place in the Champions League.
Last year, it was Liverpool who carried the teams above them. The Reds, with one game less, are sixth with their closest rivals three games away, West Ham on 58 points, Leicester 63 and Chelsea 64.
Klopp's side won the last 4 matches to overhaul the Hammer while Leicester and Chelsea lost 2 of the last 3 matches. Liverpool is third.
While Manchester United beat Leicester City in a shootout on the final day between the two sides to move above the Foxes to fourth in 2020, there have been a few cases before that.
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