Gary Lineker explains why Liverpool are “definitely better” now than in the first half of the season as he predicts they will beat Chelsea to a 2026 Champions League spot.
Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions have received a massive boost following a dramatic, last-gasp 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Despite a performance that manager Arne Slot described as perhaps their “worst” first-half showing to date, an extra-time winner from Alexis Mac Allister has kept the Reds firmly in the hunt for Europe’s elite competition.
The battle for the fifth spot
While the top two seem to be pulling away Arsenal and Manchester City, the race for the remaining spots is becoming a chaotic three-way tie.
Gary Lineker, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, believes that while the race is “erratic,” Liverpool has what it takes to edge out Chelsea for a top-five finish.
The stakes are particularly high for the Premier League this year. Due to England’s dominant UEFA season coefficient ranking, a fifth Champions League qualifying spot is almost a certainty for the English top flight.
Lineker’s “pinned to the wall” prediction
The Tottenham legend admitted he found the middle of the table difficult to call, though he remains firm on Aston Villa’s quality.
“Villa probably [get third]. They have a decent enough squad. Then it’s probably two from three. Man United play tonight, they all have 45 points. The way they’re going, they don’t have much depth.”
When pushed to provide a definitive list of who will be representing England in the Champions League next season, Lineker made a bold call:
“I do think we will get five Champions League spots. Chelsea and Liverpool are erratic. If you pinned me against a wall and told me to pick a top five: Arsenal, City, Villa, Man United, Liverpool. Chelsea miss out.”
Current Premier League standings
The table shows just how thin the margins are between 4th and 6th place, with three teams currently locked on 45 points.
Rank Club MP W D L GD Pts Form 1 Arsenal 28 18 7 3 +35 61 W-W-D-D-W 2 Man City 27 17 5 5 +31 56 W-D-W-W-W 3 Aston Villa 27 15 6 6 +10 51 W-L-D-W-D 4 Chelsea 27 12 9 6 +17 45 W-W-W-D-D 5 Man United 26 12 9 5 +10 45 W-W-W-W-D 6 Liverpool 27 13 6 8 +7 45 L-W-L-W-W
High stakes for Arne Slot
Securing a Champions League return isn’t just about prestige it may be a requirement for Arne Slot to keep his job. Following a dip in form initiated by a second 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace earlier this season, talks regarding a contract extension for the Dutchman reportedly came to a standstill.
The Reds upcoming fixtures against West Ham and away trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers are viewed as “must-wins.” While these appear to be easy points on paper, the lackluster performance against Forest has left some fans and pundits questioning if the squad has the consistency to maintain a top-five pace.
The UEFA coefficient safety net
Fortunately for the chasing pack, England’s standing in the UEFA coefficients remains the strongest in Europe.
For the Premier League to lose its fifth qualifying spot, all nine English clubs currently in European competition would need to suffer a simultaneous collapse a scenario deemed highly unlikely.
The immediate focus, however, turns to tonight’s clash between Manchester United and Everton. A slip-up by the Red Devils would open the door for Liverpool to potentially leapfrog their rivals and aim for a top-four finish, rather than settling for the fifth-place safety net.
