Liverpool could miss out on the Champions League even if they finish in the top four, here's why

Liverpool could miss out on the Champions League altogether next season even if they finish in the top four of this season's Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp's side are currently struggling to qualify for next season's competition, and sit in eighth place in the division on 43 points.

They are seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, with fifth-placed Manchester United also seven points ahead but with a game in hand on the Reds.

Liverpool's 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Tuesday did little to help them achieve their objectives, and Klopp's side have picked up only one point in their last three games.

They are also out of this season's Champions League, having lost to Real Madrid in the last 16. Winning the competition would have guaranteed qualification for next season.

However, even if the Reds do finish in fourth place in the Premier League, they may still be unable to play in the competition.

Liverpool could miss out on next season's Champions League

In the vast majority of cases, finishing in the top four guarantees Champions League football for next season.

There have been a few exceptions, however. In the 2011/12 season, Harry Redknapp guided Tottenham into fourth place. But Chelsea, who were outside of the top four positions, won that season's Champions League, defeating Bayern Munich in the final and taking Tottenham's place in next season's competition as a result.

A similar yet even more unusual scenario could affect Liverpool this time around.

Since then, UEFA have changed their regulations, meaning up to five teams from a single country can qualify for the Champions League.

That means that if Liverpool finish in fourth place but Manchester United finish fifth or lower, and win the Europa League, both sides will play in Europe's top club competition next season.

But Chelsea remain in the Champions League for this season, with the competition currently at the quarter-final stage. A top four finishing position for the Blues looks exceptionally unlikely, so winning the Champions League is realistically their only opportunity to retain their spot for next season.

If they do so, and United win the Europa League, both clubs would gain priority over the team that finishes fourth.

Therefore, if United and Chelsea are both successful in Europe, yet finish below fourth in the league, the fourth-placed team will miss out on the Champions League.

If Liverpool are in that position, Klopp's side would have to settle for playing Europa League football next season for the first time since 2016.