Despite a horrible campaign this season Liverpool are through to the Europa League Semi-Finals after dispatching Benfica 4-1 at Anfield on Thursday, thus making silverware still a possibility.
Their Premier League objective however, is to finish fourth, which would save face for the Liverpudlians, and for manager Rafa Benitez in particular. A fourth place finish would guarantee European competition next season, and would allow the Reds to rightfully retain their membership among the Premier League “Big Four.”
Getting to fourth will be no easy task, though. Manchester City hold that position at the moment with 59 points. Tottenham hold fifth on 58 points and Liverpool hold sixth on 55. Of the four contenders for fourth, Aston Villa is the furthest back, in seventh on 54 points.
At first glance, and with several weeks remaining in the season, Liverpool’s chances don’t look terrible. But Liverpool have more to think about than just the points tally.
Opportunity lost
Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa all have a game in hand over Liverpool. Thus, Liverpool’s chances of securing the fourth spot seem slim indeed.
The Reds had a fine opportunity to make a charge at the fourth spot last weekend when then fourth place Tottenham faltered, losing rather spectacularly 3-1 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The door to fourth was cracked open presenting Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa with gilded opportunities to make strides.
Liverpool’s opportunity to make such strides came on Sunday against Birmingham City at St. Andrews. A win against Birmingham would have moved Liverpool to within two points of the fourth spot. But the best the Reds could manage was a 1-1 draw.
Manager Rafa Benitez may not have helped his team’s chances when he rather oddly substituted Fernando Torres in favor of David Ngog. This move led to nothing as Liverpool, despite heavy pressure on the Birmingham goal, failed to score.
They walked off the field at full time disappointed that they had been unable to take full advantage of Tottenham’s loss.
Benitez and his men now need to win everything from this point forward and hope that City and Spurs drop points.
In light of their remaining schedules such a scenario looks absolutely feasible.
Manchester City and Spurs will have a tough run in. Liverpool? Perhaps not!
In their remaining games the season Manchester City meet Birmingham this weekend and then they have the Manchester derby next weekend. That will be followed by matches with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Spurs and finally West Ham.
Tottenham’s schedule is nearly as tough. They meet Arsenal then Chelsea then Manchester United then Bolton. In the two final games of the season they meet Manchester City and Burnley.
Liverpool would appear to have the easiest run in of the three. They have Fulham this weekend followed by West Ham, Burnley, Chelsea and Hull.
Clearly, nothing can be taken for granted in the race for fourth. And the game in hand that City and Spurs both possess? Those may well prove to be wild cards.
Fulham are in 12th place in the Premier League but they are having a spectacular run in the Europa League, having reached the semi finals after bumping off Wolfsburg 0-1 in Germany on Thursday.
Striker Bobby Zamora’s 19th goal of the season was sufficient to sink Wolfsburg and his form.jpg)
undoubtedly raises his profile for an England World Cup squad selection.
Just like fellow Europa League Semi-Finalists Liverpool, Fulham’s European expedition is their only chance for silverware this season. And given the handy results they’ve produced thus far in the competition, most notably the destruction of Italian giants Juventus, there is no reason to doubt the Cottagers’ ability to rise to an occasion in Europe.
But can they rise to an occasion against Liverpool this weekend?
No pressure on the Cottagers
Although the Cottagers have nothing to play for in the league they most certainly could serve as spoilers for Liverpool, who need a win to maintain their candidacy for a fourth place finish.
Last time out, way back in October, Fulham beat Liverpool 3-1 at Craven Cottage. This week’s match up, however, is at Anfield.
With three consecutive victories at their backs the Cottagers will likely arrive on Merseyside with confidence that they can take the game to Liverpool and hope to come out of it with at least a share of the points.
That would be a good result for Fulham, and nothing short of a disaster for Liverpool.
