Champions League football is pivotal for Liverpool.
Arne Slot recently admitted that missing out on Europe’s elite club competition would be “unacceptable” and have a serious impact on their summer transfer plans.
With 10 Premier League games remaining, the race is hotting up. Fifth place is almost certain to secure qualification given England’s lead in UEFA’s co-efficient table so Liverpool are effectively one of five clubs competing for three spots behind title-chasing Arsenal and Manchester City. Manchester United are third, followed by Aston Villa, Liverpool, Chelsea and Brentford.
Slot’s side have forced their way back into contention by taking 12 points out of the last 15. Over the same period only United (13) have fared better among that quintet with Chelsea (eight) and Villa (five) losing their way.
In late January, Liverpool found themselves 10 points behind Villa, but if they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight they will go above Unai Emery’s side, who host Chelsea tomorrow.
The Athletic assesses how the run-in looks for the champions.
Tuesday, March 3: Wolves (A)
It’s a game Liverpool will be expected to win with ease given that bottom club Wolves are doomed for relegation. However, recent meetings suggest it’s unlikely to be straightforward.
Slot’s side endured a nervy finale at Anfield in late December when Santiago Bueno pulled one back after goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz. Liverpool held on to win 2-1, the same scoreline when Liverpool completed a hard-fought league double over them last season.
Wolves, who have lost 10 of their 15 league games at Molineux this season, will be buoyed by last Friday’s 2-0 home win over Villa — only their second league victory of the campaign. Rob Edwards’ improving side took a point off Arsenal last month.
Prediction: Win
Sunday, March 15: Tottenham Hotspur (H)
This fixture will bring back special memories of last April when Liverpool triumphed 5-1 to wrap up the Premier League title in style. This time around Slot’s side are chasing a lesser prize but what hasn’t changed is the Londoners’ desperate domestic fortunes.
Spurs, who are winless in 10 league games in 2026, have continued to slip closer to the relegation zone since the appointment of Igor Tudor as their interim head coach following the sacking of Thomas Frank last month.
Liverpool should have a more straightforward afternoon than when the clubs last met in the capital in December. Slot’s side appeared to be cruising after goals from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike put them 2-0 up. However, despite red cards for Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero, Liverpool ended up clinging on to win 2-1 against nine men after Richarlison halved the deficit. It was a victory blighted by Isak suffering a broken leg.
Prediction: Win
Saturday, March 21: Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
The last time Liverpool headed for the south coast in May they were in party mode. The title was won, Slot made wholesale changes, and they led twice before slipping to a 3-2 defeat.
There will be a lot more riding on this game. Liverpool have beaten Brighton twice this season — following up a 2-0 home league win in December with a 3-0 victory in the fourth round of the FA Cup last month. However, on both occasions, Fabian Hurzeler was left to rue missed chances as the scorelines didn’t tell the full story.
The Brighton head coach was under pressure after a six-game winless streak but since then he’s overseen back-to-back league wins over Brentford and Nottingham Forest to dispel any lingering concerns about being dragged into a relegation scrap. The lunchtime Saturday kick-off isn’t ideal for Liverpool given that they host Galatasaray in the second leg of the last-16 Champions League tie on the Wednesday night.
Prediction: Draw
Saturday, April 11: Fulham (H)
Fulham have been a bogey team for Slot since he arrived at Liverpool.
Rewind to last season, Marco Silva’s men caused them a stack of problems in a 2-2 draw at Anfield when Andy Robertson was sent off and Diogo Jota netted a late equaliser.
Fulham then ended Liverpool’s 26-game unbeaten league run with a 3-2 win at Craven Cottage last April when they netted three times in the space of 14 minutes.
There was more frustration for Slot on his return to west London in January. Cody Gakpo thought he had scored a stoppage-time winner, but Harrison Reed’s stunning long-range strike left Liverpool with a draw which felt like a defeat. With a resurgent Fulham likely to still be in the hunt for European qualification, it’s a dangerous game.
Prediction: Win
Saturday, April 18: Everton (A)
It will be Liverpool’s first trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium to face their neighbours on the city’s waterfront. Everton’s home form has been dismal since they left Goodison Park with just four wins out of 14 league games. However, they are bound to raise the game for the visit of Slot’s side as they would dearly love to dent Liverpool’s pursuit of Champions League qualification.
Slot found himself caught up in the derby atmosphere last February when he was sent off for his protests to referee Michael Oliver after James Tarkowski’s late equaliser in the final derby at Goodison.
Since then Liverpool have beaten Everton twice at Anfield — 1-0 in April and then 2-1 in September. Another tight contest is guaranteed.
Prediction: Win
Hugo Ekitike scores Liverpool’s second goal against Everton in September (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Saturday, April 25: Crystal Palace (H)
Liverpool simply can’t allow Palace to inflict any more damage on their season. It started with the curtain-raiser at Wembley in August when the FA Cup winners beat them on penalties in the Community Shield.
The following month, Palace ended the champions’ perfect start to the Premier League campaign as Eddie Nketiah struck a dramatic last-gasp winner at Selhurst Park. In between Palace chairman Steve Parish made a late U-turn over selling Marc Guehi to Liverpool and the England defender subsequently joined rivals Manchester City in January.
Palace also dumped a much-changed Liverpool side out of the Carabao Cup at Anfield in October — part of an alarming run of nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions.
Palace have endured a slump since, with manager Oliver Glasner confirming he will leave at the end of the season.
Prediction: Win
Saturday, May 2: Manchester United (A)
This contest between the two biggest clubs in English football could have repercussions in the race for Champions League football.
United have been a resurgent force since Michael Carrick was appointed as interim head coach following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January. They don’t have any other distractions given their absence from European competition this season. In contrast, the trip to Old Trafford will fall between the two legs of a Champions League semi-final tie for Liverpool if they make it past Galatasaray and then beat Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight.
United won at Anfield for the first time in nearly a decade back in October as Harry Maguire’s late header sealed a 2-1 victory. Both teams look in much better shape now.
Prediction: Draw
Saturday, May 9: Chelsea (H)
It’s another crunch game against one of Liverpool’s rivals for a place in the top five.
Chelsea, like United, opted for managerial change at the turn of the year with Liam Rosenior brought in from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca. However, results have been mixed with Rosenior admitting that discipline is a problem following a spate of red cards.
There’s no love lost between Liverpool and Chelsea, and Anfield will be bouncing. Slot’s side will feel like they have a score to settle following the meeting at Stamford Bridge in October when they were beaten by Estevao’s stoppage-time winner. Chelsea have lost their last two visits to Anfield 2-1 and 4-1.
Prediction: Win
Chelsea defeated Liverpool in the clubs’ last league meeting (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Sunday, May 17: Aston Villa (A)
Much will depend on what shape Villa are in come mid-May. Out of all the contenders for Champions League qualification, they look the most vulnerable.
A month ago, Villa were on the fringes of the title race, but since then have won one of their five league matches with Emery’s side faltering badly. Injuries have exposed a lack of depth in the squad.
Emery urged Liverpool to remove the clause in Harvey Elliott’s loan deal which requires Villa to buy him for £35million if he plays 10 or more league games. However, there’s little chance of that happening given the agreement they shook on and the fact that the clubs are competing for the riches of the Champions League.
Villa were swatted aside 2-0 at Anfield in November and Liverpool should make it a league double.
Prediction: Win
Sunday, May 24: Brentford (H)
Liverpool will be hoping there’s nothing riding on this one. The dream scenario is that they are resting key personnel and preparing to grace the Champions League final in Budapest the following weekend.
But if they do need a result on the final day of the Premier League campaign then this isn’t a bad fixture to have. Brentford have lost their four previous visits to Anfield in the Premier League by a combined score of 9-0.
For Liverpool, it’s another opportunity to avenge a dismal defeat from this season with Slot’s side outplayed and outfought when they were beaten 3-2 at the Gtech Stadium in October.
Former captain Jordan Henderson will be guaranteed a big ovation on his return, along with Caoimhin Kelleher and Sepp van den Berg.
Brentford could find themselves still competing for a European spot themselves given the magnificent job Keith Andrews has done in his maiden season.
Prediction: Win
Dates subject to change.
