Do Liverpool deserve top-four place?

How damaging could Newcastle's late equaliser be for Liverpool's hopes?

"If you deserve, you deserve it. I didn't see us today playing like we deserve Champions League next year."

Will Liverpool, runaway Premier League champions last year and Champions League winners in 2019, really miss out on a place in the competition altogether next season?

Joe Willock's 95th-minute equaliser for Newcastle at Anfield in a 1-1 draw made it four dropped points in a week for Jurgen Klopp's side, with the manager questioning whether they merit another seat at the top table.

The Reds lie sixth, a point behind both Chelsea and West Ham, who meet at London Stadium later on Saturday.

"We have another five games and we will see. We learn or we don't play Champions League, that's it," said Klopp.

You're supposed to be at home…

Liverpool have a worse record in the Premier League than Brighton since the turn of the year. (Correct before the West Ham v Chelsea match.)

Liverpool's 30-year wait for a title came to an end this time last year, Klopp's side crushing all-comers at Anfield as they won 18 of 19 home games – the sole blemish a draw with Burnley.

They finished 18 points ahead of Manchester City last season but have taken 30 points fewer than Pep Guardiola's side in this calendar year alone.

Matching their 2019-20 form was an unlikely task but Liverpool's drop-off has been alarming, especially at home.

Only Fulham (four) have won fewer Premier League home points in 2021 than Liverpool's five.

"In these games [against lower sides] we have had chances like madness and we didn't use them. Who is to blame for that apart from us? Nobody," said Klopp after the Newcastle draw.

"In the moment, frustration is obviously at 150% and I will find a way back on track but for the moment it's so harsh. It's tough to take but we have to take it."

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Liverpool are not alone in struggling at home – the absence of fans perhaps playing a part – with Leicester, Arsenal and Tottenham all dropping more points than might be expected.

But the Reds have lost six times at Anfield in the league this season, as many as Brighton, Burnley and Newcastle, and they have collected an even split of 27 points in home and away games this year.

Willock's goal should have come as no surprise, given Liverpool have kept just three home clean sheets in the Premier League this season, conceding at least once in each of their past eight games at Anfield in the competition.

'This club is a Champions League team'

Left-back Andrew Robertson was in no mood to dismiss his side's chances of qualifying – but admitted that even winning every remaining game might not be enough.

Liverpool are at Old Trafford next to take on old rivals Manchester United in the most high-profile of their remaining fixtures.

"This club is a Champions League team," he said.

"We got to the quarters-finals this year – and we are still disappointed with that – and two finals in the space of four years and won the Premier League comfortably last year, so to not have Champions League football next year would deflate the whole club, of course it would.

"This club is based on fighting to the end and that's what we need to do. Even if we win the next five games it might still not be enough but we need to put that pressure on the teams.

"There have just been too many games this season where we've dropped too many points.

"Against the bottom six, if you've only picked five points up at home then unfortunately you are going to fall short of your target."

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  Comment posted by Billy Onions and his Rag-Time Band, at 17:32 24 AprBilly Onions and his Rag-Time Band

  17:32 24 AprYou EARN your CL place.

  Liverpool have been mediocre, at best, this season.

  They deserve nothing…40834

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    Reply posted by dogeared, at 17:42 24 Aprdogeared

    17:42 24 Aprto Billy Onions and his Rag-Time Band"You EARN your CL place.Liverpool have been mediocre, at best, this season.They deserve nothing…"dogeared replied: Duh.1790

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  Comment posted by IDrinkYourMilkshake, at 17:29 24 AprIDrinkYourMilkshake

  17:29 24 AprWhoever finishes top 4 deserves it. I’d love to see West Ham and Leicester make it.30820

  • S
    

    Reply posted by SammyValenteno, at 18:05 24 AprSammyValenteno

    18:05 24 Aprto IDrinkYourMilkshake"Whoever finishes top 4 deserves it. I’d love to see West Ham and Leicester make it."SammyValenteno replied: Reds missing their most important player and motivator.

    Jordan Henderson.88136

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  Comment posted by Roger That, at 17:23 24 AprRoger That

  17:23 24 AprIf they finish 4th , yes

  If not, no

  You get what you earn, unless you’re Perez that is 😂2485

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  Comment posted by Marcusgbg, at 17:39 24 AprMarcusgbg

  17:39 24 AprIt is not something you deserve. Based on recent form, they will not be top 4, and that’s that.

  If Leicester and the Hammers end up top 4, I think many a neutral would see that as refreshing.2187

  • Removed comment

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  Comment posted by ade65, at 17:32 24 Aprade65

  17:32 24 AprPointless article really – as others have already said, if they get in, they deserve a place, if they don’t, they don’t. Of course, you really should have to be a champion of a league to get in the CL, but that’s another issue consigned to history by greedly clubs and tv money.1838

  • T
    

    Reply posted by The Gorg, at 18:41 24 AprThe Gorg

    18:41 24 Aprto ade65"Pointless article really – as others have already said, if they get in, they deserve a place, if they don’t, they don’t. Of course, you really should have to be a champion of a league to get in the CL, but that’s another issue consigned to history by greedly clubs and tv money."The Gorg replied: They’ve written it for their primary school demographic.693

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  Comment posted by leythertillidie, at 17:32 24 Aprleythertillidie

  17:32 24 AprThankyou newcastle. Liverpool back on their mistake perch. Europe nights in Kazakhstan imminent hahahahaha10529

  • L
    

    Reply posted by leythertillidie, at 17:33 24 Aprleythertillidie

    17:33 24 Aprto leythertillidie"Thankyou newcastle. Liverpool back on their mistake perch. Europe nights in Kazakhstan imminent hahahahaha"leythertillidie replied: Midtable3911

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  Comment posted by maythe4thbewithyou, at 17:26 24 Aprmaythe4thbewithyou

  17:26 24 AprNo chance,woeful performance week after week,don’t deserve it 100%806

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  Comment posted by skank of the south, at 17:41 24 Aprskank of the south

  17:41 24 AprIt maybe a dumb question at the moment but come 2024/25 they’ll be in the Champions league because of their co-efficient rating even if they get relegated – joke.769

  • S
    

    Reply posted by Stulad, at 19:27 24 AprStulad

    19:27 24 Aprto skank of the south"It maybe a dumb question at the moment but come 2024/25 they’ll be in the Champions league because of their co-efficient rating even if they get relegated – joke."Stulad replied: I completely disagree with the new format so here’s hoping they take a couple of seasons off before then and we won’t have that fact tarnishing our league220

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  Comment posted by LFC_Dog, at 17:25 24 AprLFC_Dog

  17:25 24 AprIf they finish top four yes. If not, then no.729

  • I
    

    Reply posted by Ian L, at 18:54 24 AprIan L

    18:54 24 Aprto LFC_Dog"If they finish top four yes. If not, then no."Ian L replied: That’s right. What I can’t believe is that 4 people so far have given this the thumbs down. Presumably supporters of the ESL.225

• S
  

  Comment posted by Splodge, at 17:48 24 AprSplodge

  17:48 24 AprNo! And I’m a Liverpool fan!653

• S
  

  Comment posted by SeeOnlyShed, at 18:07 24 AprSeeOnlyShed

  18:07 24 AprLook at the table

  Where are they?

  This season’s CL

  Where are they?

  This seasons EFL & FA Cup

  You get the idea!

  They have got, and will proceed to get , what they “deserve” on and off the pitch just like every other club.

  The BBC have excelled themselves with this one……..!7110

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  Comment posted by shazza, at 17:35 24 Aprshazza

  17:35 24 AprBBC always pushing there own agenda,the media darlings hahahaha6414

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    Reply posted by ged, at 19:12 24 Aprged

    19:12 24 Aprto shazza"BBC always pushing there own agenda,the media darlings hahahaha"ged replied: Exactly and we all know it. BBC….be wary. Easier to deal with than SL96

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  Comment posted by Cynical Sid, at 17:34 24 AprCynical Sid

  17:34 24 AprAnother day of missed chances for Liverpool, but if you don’t take them you get the result you have earned. Flawed defence too.
  On current form they are not top four.491

  • M
    

    Reply posted by mr grumpy in Blackpool, at 19:33 24 Aprmr grumpy in Blackpool

    19:33 24 Aprto Cynical Sid"Another day of missed chances for Liverpool, but if you don’t take them you get the result you have earned. Flawed defence too. On current form they are not top four."mr grumpy in Blackpool replied: They need to strengthen their Squad as their main men,VvD,Salah,Henderson are all approaching 30 and cannot sustain the demands of Klopp’s 100mph style.They have bought players from past sales (Coutinho Sterling Torres) so where in the light of covid will new money come from.They may find the glory days have gone for now like Klopp216

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  Comment posted by Rich, at 17:33 24 AprRich

  17:33 24 AprNo one “deserves” any place until they’ve earned it, get it in to your thick skulls.525

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  Comment posted by Raedwulf, at 20:09 24 AprRaedwulf

  20:09 24 AprDo Liverpool deserve CL place next year?

  Current position: 6th.

  Answer: No.

  End of season? We’ll see. What an utterly stupid & pointless article!440

  • C
    

    Reply posted by cytrax, today at 01:20cytrax

    01:20to Raedwulf"Do Liverpool deserve CL place next year?Current position: 6th.Answer: No.End of season? We’ll see. What an utterly stupid & pointless article!"cytrax replied: I think they purposefully gaslight the readers. It’s incredibly stupid that someone sat there to write this tripe of an article.160

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  Comment posted by DavidHankey, at 17:29 24 AprDavidHankey

  17:29 24 AprHow can folk reckon L’pool “deserve” a top 4 spot!! They are mediocre at best and will finish nearer to mid-table, accept it!!5514

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    Reply posted by mr grumpy in Blackpool, at 19:41 24 Aprmr grumpy in Blackpool

    19:41 24 Aprto DavidHankey"How can folk reckon L’pool “deserve” a top 4 spot!! They are mediocre at best and will finish nearer to mid-table, accept it!!"mr grumpy in Blackpool replied: I don’t care for LFC ,but come on, they are a class above West Ham,Everton or Leicester.Last year they crushed everyone.Just because of one bad season you cannot judge so harshly.Now if it continues next year you may have a point2964

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  Comment posted by UptheSaints, at 17:39 24 AprUptheSaints

  17:39 24 AprWhat is the point in debating this? If they they don’t get the results…they don’t qualify! And if they don’t qualify – they certainly didn’t deserve a place. Geeeez rocket science it ain’t! I think Saints and the other 14 clubs that didn’t try to jump ship should go into a hat! 🤣🤣😉468

  • M
    

    Reply posted by mr grumpy in Blackpool, at 19:27 24 Aprmr grumpy in Blackpool

    19:27 24 Aprto UptheSaints"What is the point in debating this? If they they don’t get the results…they don’t qualify! And if they don’t qualify – they certainly didn’t deserve a place. Geeeez rocket science it ain’t! I think Saints and the other 14 clubs that didn’t try to jump ship should go into a hat! 🤣🤣😉"mr grumpy in Blackpool replied: Southampton ? Are you kidding? Have you watched them play? Had they not had such a great start to the season they would ,based on current form,be below West Brom.They look relegation fodder next year2110

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  Comment posted by keith, at 18:07 24 Aprkeith

  18:07 24 AprI get so much JOY out of seeing Liverpool drop points5025

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    Reply posted by City are the saviours of football, at 18:14 24 AprCity are the saviours of football

    18:14 24 Aprto keith"I get so much JOY out of seeing Liverpool drop points"City are the saviours of football replied: Not only you Keith.

    The whole country is having a party5325

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  Comment posted by Scott, at 18:12 24 AprScott

  18:12 24 AprNo one deserves it. You either get the results that put you there or you don’t. That’s football, that’s sport, that’s why fans can dream, it’s why we each grow up with hope in our club. It’s what Florentino and John don’t understand.241

• M
  

  Comment posted by Martarslipstick, at 17:36 24 AprMartarslipstick

  17:36 24 AprLet’s hope there is a winner in the West Ham v Chelsea game- a draw would suit Liverpool.255

  • M
    

    Reply posted by Mark, at 21:49 24 AprMark

    21:49 24 Aprto Martarslipstick"Let’s hope there is a winner in the West Ham v Chelsea game- a draw would suit Liverpool."Mark replied: You have your wish. No CL for Liverpoor112

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