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Liverpool could qualify for the Champions League despite finishing fifth next season under the new UEFA rules

Liverpool are currently missing out on the Champions League next season but could be a different story if they finish fifth again in 2023/24

With less than two weeks left in the Premier League season, Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League remain in check.

After Monday night’s 3-0 win over Leicester City, the Reds are one point adrift of Newcastle United and Manchester United are in fifth place. However, they played one game more than both the Magpies and Red Devils.

As a result, already sure of a top-six finish and Europa League qualification, they need at least one between Newcastle and Manchester United to win just one of their remaining three games, winning both of their last two games, if they are to secure a unlikely top four finish.

Newcastle play Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Thursday before hosting Leicester City on Monday and then ending the season at Chelsea. United meanwhile travel to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday before hosting Chelsea in the second leg on Thursday May 25 and ending the season at home to Fulham.

While Liverpool could reach maximum points in their remaining matches at home against Aston Villa and away against already relegated Southampton, it is still a huge challenge for every team above them to drop the points needed to ensure a place in the four possible finishes. head of the Reds.

In desperation, some fans may have wondered if there was a circuitous route for Jurgen Klopp’s side to next year’s Champions League. For example, if Man City won the tournament this season, would England secure a fifth qualifying spot? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Consequently, if Liverpool do not have at least one between Newcastle United and Manchester United, they will play in the Europa League next season.

In fact, it looks set to become more difficult for the Reds to re-qualify for the Champions League next season anyway, given the increased competition they will face.

Pep Guardiola’s dominant Man City will strengthen their squad as always, while Arsenal and Newcastle United will now enjoy the riches of Champions League football after years in the wilderness. Meanwhile, Manchester United could be financially buoyed by new owners this summer, while Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea look to support their new managers in the transfer market.

Add to that Robert De Zerbi’s Brighton side who came close to making the top four this year and would have considerable cash to spare following big-name departures. While it is premature to call them Champions League hopefuls, the Seagulls will be looking to build on their impressive campaign this year. Liverpool will of course improve, with a midfield refresh expected at least this summer. Alexis Mac Allister, Mason Mount and Ryan Gravenberch are all of interest, with other deals slated for the closing season as well.

The race for football in the Champions League is therefore likely to be even tougher in the years to come. So it’s good that fifth place doesn’t currently qualify for the European Cup, but that could change soon.

From the 2024/25 season, the Champions League format is set to change, with the tournament expanding from 32 teams to 36 clubs. The traditional group stage is abandoned, placing all 36 teams in a single table, with each of the qualifying teams playing eight matches, four at home and four away.

Teams finishing from first to eighth automatically qualify for the round of 16, with the knockout stage remaining the same as the current system from then on. Meanwhile, the teams placed between ninth and twenty-fourth will contest a two-legged play-off, with the eight winners also advancing to the round of 16.

So how will the four participants be determined?

Another team qualifies via the ‘Champions Path’ qualifying path, which shows competitions that fall outside the top 10 of the UEFA Country Coefficient. Meanwhile, the league that ranks fifth in the UEFA coefficient will also get an extra spot.

France currently occupy that spot, with the top two teams currently qualifying for the Champions League group stage and the third-placed qualifying for the third qualifying round. Under the new format, the top three teams would automatically qualify for the new league format, with their fourth team qualifying instead, rather than the Europa League group stage as before.

The last two places are reserved for the two countries with the highest coefficient scores of the current season. If the new format were introduced next year rather than in 2024/25, it would give England and Italy fifth place in Champions League qualification. Meanwhile, in three of the last four seasons, a Premier League side has reportedly been given one of the extra slots.

Liverpool’s transition campaign has come essentially a year early to take advantage of the format change, which would see the fifth-placed qualify for the Champions League.

And while the possibility of an extra place for English clubs could help them in their qualification race next season, assuming Premier League sides return to high performance, by winning the Europa League, with the champions of the European secondary competition will still have a place in the Champions League group stage competition under the new format.

However, Klopp will inevitably hope his side return to the top of the table and fight for titles rather than mere Champions League qualification as the 2023-24 season draws to a close.