Liverpool can formally bypass the Champions League play-off spherical and ensure their last-16 place by securing no less than a draw towards Lille on Tuesday night.
Arne Slot‘s aspect have a one hundred pc report within the competitors with six wins on the spin, putting them on the prime of the league desk with 18 factors.
It means all they need to do is keep away from defeat towards Lille to substantiate their place within the final 16, with a sport to spare.
Computerized development ensures the Reds keep away from the two-legged play-off in February, that means two pointless video games are usually not added to an already hectic schedule.
Nevertheless, there may be the chance that Liverpool might qualify even when they fall to defeat towards the French aspect at Anfield.
It might require outcomes elsewhere to go within the Reds’ favour as solely 11 groups can mathematically leapfrog Liverpool within the desk with two video games left within the league part.
That won’t be on Slot’s thoughts, nevertheless, as his workforce look to regulate their very own future towards Lille, who’re presently on a 21-game unbeaten streak throughout all competitions.
The draw for the final 16 takes place on February 21, with the two-legged ties happening throughout March 4/5 and March 11/12.
Slot solely specializing in wins, not No. 1 spot
Liverpool are the one unbeaten aspect remaining within the competitors they usually presently maintain No. 1 spot, however the brand new format might nonetheless imply it isn’t the massive benefit some might imagine it’s.
On ending prime, Slot mentioned: “A very powerful factor each time we go on the market, particularly in entrance of our personal followers, [is] we wish to win a sport.
“With this new set-up, you assume that ending up No. 1 is the most effective place to finish up with, however as a result of it’s such a wierd league desk – as a result of, for instance, I feel I’m proper, if I take a look at Paris Saint-Germain each week I feel, ‘They’ve the toughest workforce to face’.
“So, they’re fairly low on the desk, which isn’t their high quality, however they’re low. So possibly if you find yourself No. 1 you may face them. Then it’s a drawback.
“So, I’m not wanting on the league desk in a method of, ‘If we’re No. 1 we most likely have the straightforward workforce to face’ as a result of that’s unimaginable to say due to this bizarre format. I don’t imply [weird] in a unfavorable method, however this unusual format we’re having now.
“So, we wish to win however not from an thought that it’ll most likely give us then the most effective lead-up for the remainder of the marketing campaign.”
