Liverpool might have left it late to gate-crash the top-four party this season, but seven wins on the bounce means they can still go on to rubber-stamp Champions League qualification.
With two matches remaining, Jurgen Klopp and his revived Reds will finish on 71 points if they continue their impressive stretch against Aston Villa and Southampton respectively. However, they are still relying on other results given that Newcastle United and Manchester United have a game in hand.
Both also hold a one-point advantage in the quest to make it through to the marquee European competition for next season. But there is lingering hope for Liverpool.
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According to the renowned FiveThirtyEight supercomputer, though, they are destined for a fifth-place finish this campaign. Of course, with that comes an automatic spot in the Europa League.
Data from the same website is backing Manchester United to finish in third (on 72 points); with Newcastle in fourth (71 points) and Liverpool in fifth (69 points) respectively. However, while their two rivals are offered up as 81 per cent shots to qualify, Klopp and his players still hold a 37 per cent likelihood.
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As things stand, Brighton and Tottenham complete the predicted top-seven on 64 and 60 points.
From the calculations provided, Liverpool are expected to pick up a win and draw from their remaining two games. Villa make the trip to Anfield on Saturday afternoon (3pm) before the Reds complete their season on Sunday, May 28 (4.30pm) against Championship-bound Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium.
How does the supercomputer work?
FiveThirtyEight uses SPI ratings - which have an attacking and defensive component - in order to determine which team is going to win any specific game. This is all built up to see how many points clubs will earn over the course of an entire Premier League campaign.
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