Explained: How Liverpool could mathematically secure Champions League qualification on Sunday

The only way that the Reds can guarantee a top-five finish this coming weekend is by beating Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, a result which’d also see them leapfrog Michael Carrick’s side into third place.

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What do Liverpool need in order to clinch top-5 finish on Sunday?

Even if Liverpool win at Old Trafford, they’d still need two other results before then to go their way if they’re to be mathematically guaranteed a Champions League place before they host Chelsea on 9 May.

If Brighton were to drop points away to Newcastle on Saturday and Bournemouth fail to beat Crystal Palace at home on Sunday (2pm kick-off), then Slot’s team would be assured of a top-five finish should they beat the Red Devils.

At the moment, five teams between 8th and 12th could mathematically finish above the Reds, but a win over Man United at the weekend would completely remove all of the teams from the equation (which could also happen beforehand if they were to lose their own games).

Even a draw at Old Trafford and a home win over Chelsea would take Liverpool onto 62 points, thus ensuring that Brighton would need a 100% record from hereon to (at best) finish level on points with us.

LFC aren’t over the line just yet, and they still have tough fixtures to come, but their destiny is very much in their own hands, and it’d be nice to finish the job with games to spare so that we can breathe easy for the final week or two of what’s been an exhausting season.