Liverpool are ‘in the top four by default’ thanks to a drop in the form of all the clubs around them, Tony Cascarino has declared.
The Reds head to Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace in front of 10,000 fans at Anfield knowing that an eighth win in their last 10 games would guarantee them Champions League football next season.
.
Liverpool have had a season to forget, but their top four fate is in their own hands
They may not even need it as long as they match the result of fifth-ranked Leicester, tied on points but with less than four goal difference, while they could even finish third should Chelsea slip against Aston Villa.
Cascarino believes that Jurgen Klopp’s men are not in the race for the Champions League on their own merit, but rather because of the collapse of their four main rivals, having been well off the beat just over a month ago.
“They have their a little bit by default because the teams have shrunk around them,” Casc told talkSPORT.
. – .
Van Dijk’s injury hasn’t helped Liverpool this season
“Leicester, Spurs, Everton and West Ham have all had indifferent careers in which it has allowed Liverpool to catch up and get back in the top four.
“The game in the middle of the week helped them because Chelsea played Leicester.”
Klopp admitted that he wouldn’t be surprised if there were a couple more turns in the final day, something he’s also used to during his illustrious managerial career.
.
Klopp’s men looked down and out just over a month ago
“I can’t remember a season where I didn’t make it to the end because it was more or less a final or we had to fight until the last match day to qualify for the Champions League,” he said.
“Even in Dortmund it was like that, in Mainz it was to stay in the league or when we were promoted.
“I’m very used to stressing out until the last day of the game.”
–
