While it will not have softened the blow for Liverpool fans wanting to send Jürgen Klopp off into the sunset with a Europa League triumph to savor, it will not have gone unnoticed that the Reds were not the only English side to crash out of Europe this week.
Manchester City lost to Real Madrid on penalties and Arsenal was beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich. Manchester United and Newcastle had both exited the Champions League during the group phase and Bayer Leverkusen overcame West Ham United. In fact, only Aston Villa progressed as Unai Emery’s side edged out Ligue 1 side Lille.
Why is that important for Liverpool? Well, it is very simple. Last year, part of the frustration that Klopp’s men missed out on the Champions League by finishing fifth was that a year later, that might have been enough to get into UEFA’s top competition because of the expanded format.
However, that has since changed. Atalanta’s win over Liverpool helped seal an extra Champions League place for Serie A next season and it is now down to England or Germany to battle for the other one. Right now, it looks like the Bundesliga will come out on top.
If Aston Villa was to win the Conference League and all three German sides — Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen — were to be knocked out in their semi-final ties, the fifth spot would go to the Premier League. In any other scenario, though, it looks like England’s side’s poor showings in Europe this season will prove costly.
Clearly, Liverpool should be capable of coming in the top three this season, at the very least. Heading into the weekend of action, the Reds were eight points clear of Aston Villa having played a game fewer. Spurs are 11 points behind having also played 32 times.
But all three teams chasing the Premier League title still have to play Tottenham. Liverpool also has to go to Villa Park in the penultimate match of the season, though that will be after a two-legged European tie that could have taken a fair bit out of the legs of Aston Villa.
