Liverpool are nonetheless sweating on their Champions League place for subsequent season, which might but be achieved by setting a brand new low…
The Reds are presently on 59 factors and hoping Manchester Metropolis do them a favour towards Bournemouth on Tuesday in order that they don’t go into the ultimate day needing one thing towards Brentford.
Even when they beat the Bees, they might nonetheless qualify for the Champions League with the third-lowest factors tally. They nonetheless want a degree simply to equal the report low they set themselves…
Listed below are the six groups who certified for the Champions League through their Premier League place with the fewest factors…
Liverpool (2003-04, 60 factors)
Liverpool are already the staff to have certified for the Champions League with the fewest factors, with Gerard Houllier’s aspect ending fourth in 2003-04 within the Frenchman’s closing season in cost.
Like Slot’s Reds, they have been on 59 factors with one sport to go – which they solely managed by profitable three in a row earlier than a last-day draw with Newcastle. A degree noticed the Magpies end fifth and qualify for the Europa League on 56 factors.
Liverpool could have certified for the Champions League with a record-low factors complete, however as soon as there, they then went on to win the European Cup underneath Rafa Benitez.
Everton (2004-05, 61 factors)
The next season, David Moyes’ Everton pipped their Merseyside rivals to fourth place with a degree greater than Liverpool managed the earlier season.
However the Reds nonetheless certified by profitable the bloomin’ factor.
And Everton chucked away their huge alternative. They have been crushed by Villarreal within the third qualifying spherical to overlook out on the group levels.
Manchester Metropolis (2015-16, 66 factors)
Of their final pre-Pep season underneath Manuel Pellegrini, Metropolis completed fourth forward of Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United.
Metropolis limped over the road, profitable solely one among their final 5 matches, nevertheless it was nonetheless sufficient to place United into the Europa League. Which they duly gained as a part of Jose Mourinho’s food plan Treble.
Within the league at the least, Metropolis appeared to take their foot off the gasoline as soon as it turned clear at the beginning of February that Guardiola was changing Pellegrini.
At that time, they have been second earlier than instantly shedding three on the bounce, profitable solely 5 of their final 13, with a Champions League run to the semi-finals additionally a distraction.
Manchester United (2019-20, 66 factors)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United completed with an similar report 66 factors, +30 purpose distinction – to Pellegrini’s Metropolis.
That was sufficient for third place within the season halted briefly by Covid. However United have been a staggering 33 factors off title winners Liverpool.
And so they made a late sprint for third. Between September and their penultimate sport, United had been no greater than fifth, however on the again of a 14-game unbeaten run to shut the season, they edged Chelsea into fourth.
Talking of whom…
Chelsea (2019-20, 66 factors)
After a ropey begin underneath Frank Lampard at the beginning of his first marketing campaign in cost at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea didn’t drop beneath fourth via the final 30 matchdays. However nor did they go greater than third.
The Blues entered the Covid break comfortable in fourth, 5 factors behind Leicester. However the Foxes fell away badly as soon as play resumed in June, profitable solely two of their final 9 to permit United and Chelsea to go above them.
Newcastle (2024-25, 66 factors)
Final season’s Newcastle have been capable of safe passage into the Champions League from fifth place, and even then it was tight.
The Magpies solely beat Aston Villa into sixth on purpose distinction – Villa have made one of the best of it by going all the best way to the Europa League closing – whereas seventh-placed Nottingham Forest have been solely a degree off the Toon.
The hole between final season’s factors tally and this time period’s complete highlights Newcastle’s hunch. Even when they win at Fulham on the ultimate day, they’ll nonetheless end 14 factors fewer year-on-year.
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