Before Champions League final, Reds to tackle Blues
PREMIER LEAGUE Jurgen Klopp’s boys, third on points table, face fifthplaced Chelsea
LONDON: Fresh from booking their place in Champions League final after a dramatic night in Rome, Liverpool’s European heroes return to the fight for a Premier League top four finish when they face Chelsea on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp’s side are still on a high following a 4-2 defeat at Roma on Wednesday that clinched a 7-6 aggregate success in the Champions League semifinals.
Liverpool will take on holders Real Madrid in their eighth European Cup final appearance on May 26 in Kiev.
But first the Reds have to ensure they feature in next season’s Champions League.
Third placed Liverpool are six points ahead of fifth placed Chelsea, but they would give renewed hope to the Blues if they are beaten at Stamford Bridge.
A Liverpool win this weekend would make it impossible for Chelsea to catch them, ensuring the Reds will qualify for next season’s Champions League with a game in spare.
Even a draw in west London would effectively seal their top four place because Liverpool have a vastly superior goal difference.
Failing that, victory at home to Brighton on the final day of the league season would do the job before Liverpool focus on their European showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo and company.
Three draws in their past four league outings against Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke -- partly the result of Klopp prioritising Champions League progress -- have allowed Chelsea to close to the gap.