Pep’s brilliant Man City are potentially two games away from winning their first-ever Champions League title, but what would it mean for Liverpool?
Liverpool have started a resurgence for their top 4 spot and are just 1 point off of Man Utd, having played 1 more game. This has kept their UCL qualification for the next season still alive.
United have lost back-to-back games which has been a major boost for the Reds. Besides, if the Reds fail to make it to the top 4, there is still hope for European football next season.
As the season draws to an end, the English clubs are fighting for European trophies in their respective competitions. Manchester City are in the Champions League semi-final while West Ham are in the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
If both the teams win the respective competitions, there would be additional spots in Europe for English clubs, the next season.
Man City could help Liverpool secure UCL
Pep’s team welcome current UCL champions, Real Madrid after an intense affair at the Bernabeu, which ended in a 1-1 draw. If they are to win at the Etihad, they would potentially be one game away from making history.
As of now, either Real or City would meet either of the Milan clubs in the final, in Istanbul on June 10. However, the results will not particularly have an impact on what UEFA competition Liverpool will be playing in next season.
As per qualification rules, City will earn their right to a Champions League spot by getting their hands on the famous trophy, but they have already done so due to their Premier League finish.
No matter the result in Europe, Pep and his team have already qualified for UCL next season. However, for the side that misses out – likely between Man United, Newcastle United, and Liverpool – that ‘extra’ Champions League place will not be directly passed down.
In this particular case, automatic qualification would go to whoever wins the highest-ranked national league within the UEFA bracket without such a privilege. As things stand, that would be the Ukrainian Premier League champions which benefits Shakhtar Donetsk as the current leader there.
In simple words, it would be permitted for five clubs from the same country to play in the Champions League. But in order for that to happen a team must win the competition and finish outside of the top four in the Premier League.
Hence, Liverpool only have one route into the UCL for next season by finishing fourth or above.
I’m a football enthusiast and an avid writer and someone who lives by the Bill Shankly quote, on a day to day basis.
