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Which club are the main threat to Liverpool's Champions League spot?

Once it was taken as Red, but now fourth place in the table is up for grabs with the likes of Manchester City, Everton and Aston Villa giving it their best shot.

by Joe Baker on 08 February 2008

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Sven: Worked wonders at City (gettyimages.com)

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The season looks like ending with a bang. The title race may have two-front-runners in Arsenal and Manchester United but Chelsea are also still in there scrapping. And there is an even more interesting chase for the remaining Champions League spot that everyone assumed would be Liverpool's – but not any more.

Six teams are separated by just six points and it’s anyone’s guess who will sneak into the most prestigious club tournament on the planet. Liverpool may still be slight favourites because of their experience over the years, but Merseyside rivals Everton will be a tough side to unseat. They have lost just once in 14 league matches and their fans will be hoping their transfer window additions will keep them in pole position.

Man City have been there or thereabouts all season, Sven Goran Eriksson has worked wonders and Eastlands regulars will be pleasantly shocked at the transformation of their side which bears little or no resemblance to the ramshackle bunch that Stuart Pearce ran the rule over last term. Eriksson has managed to get more out of the squad left to him and added quality in the likes of Martin Petrov and Vedran Corluka.

‘What Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp have achieved is remarkable – with far fewer resources they have turned mid-table sides into real candidates for Europe.’

Martin O’Neill has taken a little longer to reshape Villa but, like Sven, he is making an impression on a team that has for too long been off the pace. It is a great compliment to the Villa Park outfit that so many of their players were recognised in recent international call-ups and this alone shows how much things have improved. Can they sneak into the Champions League – well, I think it could happen. They are a very hard side to beat and but for a couple of last-minute dropped points they would be in the top four now.

Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers also deserve a mention – what Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp have achieved is remarkable. With far fewer resources than the clubs already mentioned, they have turned their mid-table sides into real candidates for Europe.

So who do you think will take that priceless place?

Comments (13)

by gaz on February 08, 2008

maybe i am being slightly bias but i genuinely think the side with the best chances has to be everton. we have the best squad out of the sides mentioned, and have a relatively decent run in. although i still think liverpool will luckily sneak it as always.

by Stuart on February 08, 2008

As a Villa fan I would love to see us finish 4th, but I think the top six is more realistic for us, the only team I see challenging for the fourth spot is Everton, Man City will drop points.

by Clive on February 08, 2008

Have i missed something? Liverpool's champions league spot?? Has it been allocated to them already?Not to worry reds fans if you dont make it you can always cry your way in ...again!!!!!

by rouman on February 08, 2008

no blue nose clive, the only threat to liverpool, is our selves. no good you blue noses going you won,t even make the group stages..

by carl on February 08, 2008

i agree wholeheartedly with rocky and clive,, if you go back and watch the derby matches between everton and liverpool,, you will find that most of the injustices were done to everton,,and as far as the heading is concerned,, liverpools champion league spot,, CLIVE is absolutely right in assuming that all is done and dusted to give the fourth spot to liverpool,, and as for pompey,,you really need to get your facts right,,, they have spent twice as much money as everton have on players.COYB

by jim on February 08, 2008

liverpool have the quality to burn away from everton. unfortunatly we have been in this mess for a bit now and the manager and the players need to get a grip before we have to bare the embarrasment of the blues getting 4th. no disrespect to everton they work hard every game but liverpool have a lot more quality than everton. and we hopfully will show come the end.

by JJ on February 08, 2008

the bitters, villa are too wimbledonesqe and city dont score enough goals. Liverpool will finish fourth, two points ahead of the bitters. After all you cant have small clubs in the champions league.......(25 replies)

by rocky on February 08, 2008

only for the likes of clattenburg and wiley,, you would have been well and truly burnt off,,

by Lee Lindsay on February 08, 2008

I think we have lost only 3 games in 26 before going to the Cottage. That's definately European form but maybe not quite Champions League form will Villa conceeding into to many draws still!

by Roberto on February 08, 2008

Blackburn's superior quality will shine through. Evorton have done well, as have Portsmouth and Villa. Man City have fallen by the wayside a little but fair play to them even though they essentially bought their success this season Svengali has done pretty well. Anyway I digress, Pool have got no chance they're rubbish, Blackburn will come storming up the table just you see! Ps Spurs are a disgrace and should not be allowed to play in the world's most elite football league. Plus Spud Fart Lane always smells

by trader on February 08, 2008

As usual. "The refs cost us" "We are victims of an agenda" "Everyone favours Liverpool". I find it so funny reading these comment from BITTER blues. Theyre so BITTER its untrue! Get over the fact that you havnt won anything for 13 years, get over the fact that you have never won the champions league, get over the fact that you are a small club.