Sky pundit predicts team to miss out in Champions League pursuit

Sky pundit predicts team to miss out in Champions League pursuit

Neville backs Liverpool for Champions League qualification push

Liverpool momentum builds after Fulham win

Liverpool have been here before, navigating pressure, absorbing expectation, and then finding a way through. Their 2-0 win over Fulham at Anfield carried more than three points. It sharpened belief around Champions League qualification and quietly shifted the mood.

Off the pitch, that belief has been reinforced by Gary Neville. His assessment of the top five race has added a fresh layer of intrigue, particularly for a Liverpool side balancing domestic urgency with European ambition.

Neville predicts Chelsea drop-off

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast via Sky Sports Premier League, Neville delivered a blunt verdict on Chelsea and their chances of Champions League qualification.

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He said: “I think [Chelsea are] gonna have a difficult end to the season and it feels to me now like Chelsea will miss out on Champions League football.

“And a few weeks ago, I think they were in a spot whereby I thought Villa were in free fall and that Chelsea, Liverpool and United would get that third, fourth, fifth spot.

“I actually think now that Chelsea are going to miss out because of what’s happened in this last few weeks and where they’re at”

It is a sharp change in tone. Chelsea had looked secure, yet form has slipped at the worst possible time. Five defeats in six games, including a 3-0 loss to Manchester City, have altered the landscape.

Qualification picture opens for Liverpool

For Liverpool, this matters. Champions League qualification remains a central objective, both competitively and financially. The door has opened slightly, and the challenge now is to step through it.

Virgil van Dijk has made that priority clear.

“Every game is massive and especially if you look at the opponents we’ve got. We all know how important Champions League football is for the club in general, financially as well.”

There is no disguise here, no attempt to downplay stakes. Liverpool understand what qualification means, not only for prestige but for sustaining their position among Europe’s elite.

European focus adds further weight

Balancing that pursuit is a significant Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain. The demands are relentless, and selection decisions will carry consequences across both fronts.

There are emerging narratives within the squad too. Rio Ngumoha has caught attention with his impact against Fulham, prompting former midfielder Danny Murphy to say: “99.9% of Liverpool fans want to see him Tuesday night… he can make things happen.”

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That sense of possibility sits alongside the hard reality of the run-in. Momentum has returned in patches, and with rivals faltering, Liverpool have a chance to define their own outcome.

Neville’s view may not decide the race, but it reflects a growing perception. Qualification is now firmly within reach, provided Liverpool maintain focus and intensity through the decisive weeks ahead.