Everton‘s failure to win against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon means Liverpool’s top four finish – and therefore qualification for next season’s Champions League – has been secured. In all honesty it had been confirmed already with the Toffees nine points behind with three games remaining before play.
David Moyes’ side are now 8 points behind the Reds with just 2 games remaining, they remain fifth having drawn 2-2 with six placed Aston Villa at Goodison. Fifth place means qualification for the Uefa Cup next season, and with Villa just three points behind, the Blues could yet end up out of the European spots after their own high hopes for finishing in the top four a few weeks ago.
For Liverpool, qualification for Europe’s top competition is a huge financial requirement in today’s current climate but also in terms of being able to budget for the summer and the calibre of player Rafa Benitez will be able to attract.
It isn’t yet May and already Benitez has been linked with a host of targets. We reported last Wednesday how full back Phillip Degen was set to arrive on a Bosman transfer in the summer from Borusia Dortmund. That was then reported by all media outlets with several sources in Germany quantifying the initial report, although the player has denied anything has been finalised yet.
Liverpool have two remaining league fixtures – at home to Man City on Sunday and the following week at White Hart Lane against Spurs. The Reds currently sit on 70 points (2 more than their third position finish last season) and could acheive 76 points which would be their third best Premier League points tally.
