Liverpool have offered Manchester United a new path to European qualification

Manchester United’s victory over Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final gave Liverpool a boost in the fight for qualification for Europe

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

It’s not often that Liverpool fans find themselves rooting for Manchester United.

And really, they probably weren’t there on Sunday when Old Trafford battled their way to the FA Cup Final with a penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Wembley.

But a loss to the Seagulls was actually good news for the Reds. Well, at least in terms of improving their European football chances next season.

There are seven places available for English teams. Those who finish in the Premier League’s top four are guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League after United were knocked out of the Europa League by Sevilla on Thursday night, raising the possibility that Erik’s side will Hag finds himself outside the top four but wins. one of the Champions League spots as Europa League winners.

At the start of the season, the team that finishes fifth in the Premier League has an available place in the Europa League, with another going to the FA Cup winners. The winner of the League Cup gets a place in the Europa Conference League.

With United and FA Cup runners-up Manchester City both set to finish in the top five, this means the team that finishes sixth will also earn a Europa League spot with the fifth team – both straight to the group stage .

And with United having already won the League Cup, the Europa Conference League spot is now on the verge of being handed to the team finishing seventh, as was the case last year with West Ham United. who has reached the semi-finals this season of the competition has reached.

Liverpool, of course, are still hoping for an unlikely place in the top four, although realistically Jurgen Klopp’s side would have to win the remaining six games and Newcastle United or Manchester United would suffer a dip in form. The Reds are now six points behind in the Champions League places after tonight’s 2-1 win at West Ham. But they have played two more games than the Red Devils and one more than the Magpies, who travel to Everton on Thursday night.

But that sixth-place finish will most likely secure Europa League qualification, boosting their chances of a place in Europe next season while avoiding the Europa Conference League, whose qualifiers face a play-off round at the end of August.

The Reds are now sixth, a point behind Aston Villa in fifth but with a game less and a far superior goal difference. They are also due to host Villa at Anfield in the coming weeks. Tottenham Hotspur, who travel to Anfield on Sunday, are seventh and level on points with Liverpool but with a lower goal difference. CONTINUE READING

We’ll talk’ – Jurgen Klopp addresses Fabio Carvalho situation at Liverpool amid transfer speculation

Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho has only played five minutes in the Premier League since October

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp with Fabio Carvalho (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

It was a very different season for Fabio Carvalho when Liverpool last crossed swords with West Ham United.

In October, the attacking midfielder was still enjoying a honeymoon at Anfield after joining Fulham for an initial £5million in the summer.

After a goal in the 9-0 win over Bournemouth followed by a spectacular late winner against Newcastle United a few days later, Carvalho was heavily involved in the opening weeks of the season, playing in eight of the first nine Premier League games before to postpone his third start. when visiting the hammers.

However, there were signs Carvalho was struggling to adapt, with the 20-year-old being substituted at half-time on back-to-back starts to Everton – albeit through injury – and at home to Brighton and Hove Albion and against West Ham. removed before time

And three days later, Carvalho managed 62 minutes before getting hooked in the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. It says a lot that Carvalho didn’t even make the bench for Saturday’s second leg at Anfield, the fourth time in the last five Premier League games that he hasn’t made the squad. Liverpool.

In fact, the player has played just five minutes in two short Premier League substitutions since that game at the City Ground. There have also been three away appearances in the Champions League and three starts in domestic cup competitions, including a goal at Manchester City in their 3-2 League Cup fourth round defeat.

Carvalho, who was born in Lisbon but moved to London ten years ago, was also the subject of intrigue in November when he surprisingly turned down the opportunity to continue playing for Portugal U21 after being called up for friendly matches against the Czech Republic and Japan. . He previously represented England at various youth levels. With competition for attacking places intensifying with the signing of Cody Gakpo in January and the return to fitness of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, there is every chance that Carvalho will be out again when the Reds will perform at the London Stadium tonight.

While Jurgen Klopp has reiterated the youngster remains impressive in training, Carvalho has been linked with a potential loan deal next season with Porto reportedly interested.

However, the Reds boss claims nothing has been decided. “I would like to make all these decisions with the guys before I talk about it (publicly),” Klopp said. “There is no decision yet in any direction. “What I can say is that he was exceptional again this week in training. He is truly exceptional.