Liverpool’s disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace at the weekend was a major blow to their hopes of finishing the season in the Premier League’s top four.
Former Reds striker Christian Benteke scored both goals that earned the visitors the three points after Philippe Coutinho’s spectacular free-kick had opened the scoring for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Liverpool still have four fixtures left to play but the defeat gave encouragement to top four rivals Manchester United and Arsenal, both can now overtake the Reds if they win their games in hand.
With injuries piling up and confidence taking a knock after last weekend’s defeat, it is paramount that Liverpool finish the season in the top four to mark a significant improvement under Klopp, and put Liverpool back in the Champions League where they need to be.
Champions League qualification would help Liverpool attract players to come to Anfield, and also give the club more money to invest in players.
If Liverpool miss out on the top four, then they will have to negotiate playing in the Europa League, and that competition is really a millstone round a team’s neck with Thursday and Sunday fixtures and the amount of extra games providing a serious problem for mounting a challenge in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s disappointing league position last season was partly down to their adventures in the Europa League.
Losing the Europa League final to Seville that would’ve meant qualification into this season’s Champions League was a major disappointment, and Liverpool can’t afford to let this season’s tremendous opportunity slip away again.
Liverpool’s mounting injury list a real concern, and many people expected Klopp to add a few players in the January transfer window to strengthen the squad for the final few months of the season, and now with players like Sturridge, Lallana, Mane and Henderson all injured, the squad is really stretched.
Hopefully the lack of transfer activity in January’s transfer window doesn’t prove costly and Liverpool can somehow stumble over the finish line in the race for a top four spot.
The Kopite View 
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