Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher does not believe that Arne Slot's side will play in the UEFA Champions League next season after their 2-1 defeat against Manchester City. The former English defender that they are going to miss out on the Top Five following a poor run of form.
Jammie Carragher doubts at Liverpool's qualification chances in UEFA Champions League
Appearing on Sky Sports following the game, Carragher opined that Liverpool will need a big change in form and luck to get into the Top Five after slipping four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea. He also added that they require to focus on the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup and said:
"No. Right now I don't. They would have to have a huge upturn in form. And the ones above them are in great form. It's a bad one. When you look at the league for L'pool, it looks like a long way to get into the top five Champions League positions. There's a gap now. You can make that up but L'pool will have to do well in the two cup competitions to save the season."
Carragher went on to claim that the problems at the club are more about individual mistakes than the tactics of the manager. He wants the Dutchman to change the front four, signalling at dropping Mohamed Salah, and said:
"If L'pool continue the way they are, with a front four and the games end to end, I just don't see how they can make the Champions League positions. But no matter what Arne Slot does, the make-up of this squad and team isn't right. It never looks stable, they are never in control. There is a long road ahead for L'pool to make the Champions League places."
Liverpool will face Sunderland next in the Premier League before facing Brighton in the FA Cup.
Gary Neville reflects on Liverpool making it to UEFA Champions League next season
Manchester United icon Gary Neville also responded to Liverpool's chances of making it to the UEFA Champions League next season, believing that they still have ample time to make some recovery. He says that they need to forget about what has happened and focus on the upcoming games and said:
"They're now four points behind the top five. That's not a big gap at all, and there's a long way to go, and they'll have to play most of the teams above them, so they've still got loads of opportunities. But there's a question mark over Liverpool. There is a question mark as to whether they will finish in the Champions League places. I still think they will, but what they have to do is box that up very quickly, and chuck it in a corner, and forget about it."
Liverpool will use their four right-back options, Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Joe Gomez, against Sunderland this week.