Liverpool is firmly in the driving seat to qualify for the Champions League from this position, with Chelsea losing five games in a row to hand Arne Slot a huge advantage

Liverpool is in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League next season and now needs a maximum of three wins to guarantee that it comes inside the top five spots.

It has already been guaranteed that the Premier League will have the fifth Champions League place as a result of its coefficient. And Liverpool is within touching distance of ensuring that it comes fifth or higher.

After Chelsea lost to Brighton on Tuesday, Liverpool only needs two victories to ensure that it finishes ahead of Liam Rosenior's side, or just one if that win comes against them at Anfield in a few weeks.

Liverpool needs three wins to definitely come ahead of Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth, though any of those sides dropping points in the meantime will see that number go down.

Bournemouth plays Leeds later today while Brentford is at Manchester United next, with that game not until Monday. By then, Liverpool will have faced Crystal Palace.

According to the latest Opta predictions, Liverpool as a 90 per cent chance of getting back into the Champions League from this position, and it seems very unlikely to collapse from here. Brighton is the next likeliest team with a six per cent chance.

After hosting Crystal Palace on Saturday, Slot's side will then end the campaign with matches against Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford.

Chelsea, meanwhile, which was the closest challenger to Liverpool until recently, has now lost five league games in a row without scoring a single goal in that period.

"It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game, unacceptable in our attitude," head coach Rosenior said after the Brighton defeat. "I keep coming out and defending the players — that's indefensible, that performance tonight.

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"The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels that we lost, the lack of intensity in the team. Something needs to change drastically right now.

"I think the players need to have a look in the mirror for what they put in. You can talk about tactics... tactics come after the basics.

"Having more courage to play, winning duels, winning headers, tackles, and conceding terrible goals. That was an unacceptable performance tonight." (Liverpool)

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