Liverpool’s 1-0 win away to Watford on Monday enhanced the likelihood of finishing the Premier League campaign in the Champions League spots.
Emre Can‘s Goal of the Season contender propelled the Reds to another three points as the season nears its conclusion, sinking the Hornets at Vicarage Road.
After their 2-1 collapse at home to Crystal Palace on April 23, this served to be the perfect response from Jurgen Klopp‘s side.
This is particularly the case after Man City and Man United played out a 0-0 draw on Thursday night, before being held by relegation-threatened Middlesbrough and Swansea City on Sunday respectively.
With results elsewhere, and their own efforts, going in their favour, Liverpool ended Monday night third in the table, three points above fourth-placed City.
And with just three games left to play, the Reds have given themselves a great chance of finishing in the top four come May 21.
After Emre Can's spectacular goal, #LFC's top-4 chances edge up to 93% ?
Full @ft projections & underlying ratings: https://t.co/0Q2DBEeIuH pic.twitter.com/mgP5mzNToT— John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) May 1, 2017
Naturally, simulating results will never be foolproof, especially when concerning Liverpool, but the latest prediction from the Financial Times is encouraging.
Their model, based on “underlying performance data,” gives Liverpool a 93 percent chance of finishing in the top four, and a 51 percent chance of finishing third.
Meanwhile, OptaJoe revealed a telling statistic that should work in Klopp’s favour over the next three weeks:
69 – Liverpool have 69 pts from 35 PL games in 16/17. Only 1 of previous 55 teams with 69+ pts at this stage failed to finish in top 4. Omen pic.twitter.com/yAIxtvj9dc
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 2, 2017
Given the Reds will play Southampton, West Ham and Middlesbrough in their final three games this season, they should end the campaign strongly on paper.
But having failed to score against the Saints on three occasions already this season, and drawing 2-2 with the Hammers back in December, it is unlikely to be straightforward.
Monday’s performance against Watford was another step towards Klopp’s objective, though, having seen his side grind out another result.
Defeat to Palace could be an anomaly, with Liverpool also defeating West Brom and Stoke City in similar circumstances as they continue to push for Europe’s top tier.
Finishing in the top four is imperative for Klopp as he prepares for the summer transfer window, and with a supposed 93 percent chance, the odds are in his favour.
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