Liverpool have officially qualified for the Champions League for next season. Or maybe, more accurately, Tottenham Hotspur have officially disqualified. After Chelsea beat Spurs on Thursday, the math has been mathing, and the Reds are guaranteed to make the top four.
While that isn’t quite the triumphant farewell we were hoping Liverpool would give parting manager Jürgen Klopp when he leaves in June, it’s still welcome news.
Liverpool spent this season outside of Europe’s top competition, instead making it to the quarterfinals of the Europa League. They were doing well before their sudden, dramatic drop in performance in April. Then they lost to Italian team Atalanta by an aggregate score of 3-1, thanks to a 3-0 home defeat to kick off the tie.
It’s no secret the heavy monetary reward that comes with making the Champions League. But there are other, less tangible benefits as well. The biggest of these is the ability to offer prospective players the opportunity to play in Europe’s tentpole event. Another benefit is simply the morale and confidence boost that come with being considered one of the best teams on the continent.
While it likely won’t come along with the Premier League title, winning back a place in the top four is a relief, especially after the way Liverpool’s results have fallen off a cliff.