- Liverpool’s resurgence against Everton
- Comparison with their competitors
Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Everton on Sunday has eased the pressure on head coach Arne Slot for the time being. With five games left, this win must translate into momentum in the upcoming fixtures.
Victory over the arch-rivals gave an extra push towards Champions League football next season. Virgil Van Dijk’s bullet header in added time sealed all three points. Besides, this marked the side’s first derby victory in the Hill Dickinson. However, nothing is over until the last game.
The margin for error has officially vanished following a dramatic round of fixtures, the race for the Champions League spots has tightened up.
Aston Villa managed to keep their momentum alive in a seven-goal thriller, securing a late 4-3 victory over Sunderland. Meanwhile, Manchester United claimed a massive result in the “six-pointer” against Chelsea, edging out a 1-0 win to distance themselves from the Blues.
Despite these victories, the pressure remains on Liverpool, three points behind their rivals. With the gap narrowing and only a handful of games left, the sprint for the top five is wide open.
As we head into the final stretch of the 2025/26 season, and to help you keep track of the drama, at ReadLiverpoolFC we have compared the run-ins for the four main contenders: Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
Champions League Race: The State of Play
| Club | Points | Form | Key Match Remaining |
| Man Utd | 61 | W-D-L-W | Liverpool (H) |
| Aston Villa | 61 | L-W-D-W | Liverpool (H) |
| Liverpool | 58 | D-L-W-W | Man Utd (A) |
| Chelsea | 48 | L-L-L-L | Liverpool (A) |
Aston Villa (4th – 58pts)
- Fulham (A) – April 25
- Tottenham (H) – May 3
- Burnley (A) – May 10
- Liverpool (H) – May 17
- Man City (A) – May 24
The only team in the list that is still competing in Europe. Unai Emery’s side has two ways to make it to the Champions League: first, obviously, to finish in the allocated positions, and second, to win the Europa League.
However, the latter remains unreliable, and the side cannot depend on it right now. Aston Villa need just six points to secure their place in Europe’s elite competition.
Moreover, with games against Fulham, Tottenham, and Burnley coming up, they should get past without any concerns. Last time out, the Reds beat the Villans 2-0 at home.
On the other hand, this would be a positive for the Reds as they travel to Villa Park for the second-to-last game of the season. And hopefully, Emiry would be resting key players ahead of the European final.
Manchester United (3rd – 58pts)
- Brentford (A) – April 27
- Liverpool (H) – May 3
- Sunderland (A) – May 9
- Nottingham Forest (H) – May 17
- Brighton (A) – May 24
Sitting at the top of the list is Manchester United, on goal difference ahead of Aston Villa. However, Michael Carrick’s arrival has lifted the side to the brink of a top-five finish. Similar to Villa, six points would guarantee their spot.
But the Red Devils have a game against Liverpool. This game is on May 3rd, and the Reds travel to Old Trafford. Which means the Merseyside team should be expecting a tough fight, but if confidence has been gained before the fixture, it would be priceless. However, Slot’s side would be looking for revenge in the reverse fixture after the 2-1 defeat at home.
Whatever happens, it will be just a matter of time to see where they finish.
Chelsea (6th – 48pts)
- Brighton (A) – April 21
- Nottingham Forest (H) – May 4
- Liverpool (A) – May 9
- Tottenham (H) – May 17
- Sunderland (A) – May 24
Chelsea are the only side on the list, barely a threat to anyone. The London side’s performance has been going downhill. Unfortunately, depending on other teams to help them qualify.
New manager Liam Rosenior’s tenure is not going as planned, with the team lacking in attack and defence. This plays out to Liverpool’s advantage. However, if the Blues drop points against Palace or West Ham United, the game against the Blues would become crucial.
In the previous meeting, Chelsea won 2-1. Another payback awaits, but this time at Anfield.
Liverpool (5th – 55pts)
- Crystal Palace (H) – April 25
- Manchester United (A) – May 3
- Chelsea (H) – May 9
- Aston Villa (A) – May 17
- Brentford (H) – May 24
Sunday’s win against Everton has rekindled hopes for Liverpool. After a season of so many twists and turns, the possibility of Champions League is positive.
Consecutive victories over Fulham and Everton in the league have steadied the boat a bit. But the most unpredictable part comes in May. Currently, Slot’s side would need nine points, and if things go as planned, the spot can be wrapped up before the Chelsea game.
Having all these comparisons in hand, it will be an absolute showdown to the end of the season. Liverpool’s only hope would be to salvage a Champions League spot, which would be the only talking point about this campaign.
| Club | Points | Key Result | Gap to Liverpool |
| Manchester United | 61 | Won 1-0 vs Chelsea | +3 |
| Aston Villa | 61 | Won 4-3 vs Sunderland | +3 |
| Liverpool | 58 | Pending Next Match | — |
| Chelsea | 48 | Lost 0-1 vs Man Utd | -7 |
ReadLiverpoolfc Verdict: With Villa and United sitting on 61 points and Liverpool breathing down their necks at 58, the upcoming head-to-head fixtures will likely decide who secures elite European football next season.
