With only one match remaining in their Premier League season, Liverpool's hopes of a top-four finish appear all but over.
Three points against Aston Villa would have kept Jurgen Klopp's side in with an outside chance of securing Champions League football, though such hopes are fading fast ahead of next Sunday's final-day trip to Southampton.
The Europa League now looks to be the likely outcome of the Reds' 2022/23 campaign, a scenario that has very much been self-inflicted due to a number of poor performances against lesser sides.
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Results from today's Premier League matches have confirmed Klopp's men could yet finish as high as third, though extremely unlikely, and as low as sixth position. We explain how, below.
How could Liverpool finish 3rd?
In the event of both Newcastle United and Manchester United losing their final two fixtures, and should Liverpool taste victory on the South Coast next weekend, this would see the Reds end the season tied on 69 points with their competitors.
Liverpool would finish ahead of the Red Devils due to their superior goal difference, although they would need Newcastle to ship a handful of goals against Leicester City and Chelsea to bridge the seven-goal advantage Eddie Howe's side currently boast on them.
How could Liverpool finish 4th?
Again, winning at Southampton is the first starting point for this to be made possible. It would also require Manchester United to taste defeat on home soil versus Chelsea and Fulham, to end level on 69 points with Liverpool. Regardless of Newcastle's results, the Reds would take fourth place ahead of Erik ten Hag's men due to their weaker goal difference, which currently stands at 17.
How could Liverpool finish 5th?
Liverpool can make sure of fifth place by seeing off Southampton at St Mary's Stadium next Sunday. No matter if Brighton win their remaining two matches, the Reds would deny them fifth by beating the Saints. Brighton must achieve victories in their games against Manchester City and Aston Villa to have any chance of leapfrogging Liverpool, meaning a draw or defeat in either of their next games would deny them this feat.
How could Liverpool finish 6th?
Liverpool losing on the final day would open the door for Brighton to move one place up the table, though Roberto De Zerbi's side must have beaten City and Villa. This would see the Reds end on 66 points, with Brighton on 67.
If Liverpool draw with Southampton and the Seagulls claimed three points against City and Villa, it would then come down to goal difference for fifth. The Reds currently lead the way in this department (+28 vs +20).
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