Reds cannot afford to fail
LONDON: Liverpool have no margin for error in the race for a topfour place and must win their remaining two Premier League games to make sure of a spot in next season’s Champions League, said left back James Milner.
Third-placed Liverpool (70 points, 36 games) are a point and a place above Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Manchester United are not out of the running in fifth but it is Arsenal who look the biggest threat for a place in the top four.
The Gunners trail Liverpool by seven points but have two games in hand, including Wednesday’s trip to Southampton.
Liverpool have a difficult visit to West Ham and a home tie against an already-relegated Middlesbrough left to play.
“We have got to win the last two,” Milner told British media. “How would we feel if we miss out? Sick. This is a team and a club that needs to be in the Champions League.”
Liverpool have struggled for consistency in their last few games, losing at home to Crystal Palace, scraping a 1-0 win at Watford and drawing 0-0 at home to Southampton at the weekend in a game Milner failed to convert a penalty.
“We have shown on any one day we can beat anyone so if we could get in the Champions League we know we could be a match for anyone,” he said. “We have got to do it consistently.” Reuters