LIVERPOOL and Bournemouth could face off in a dramatic play-off to decide Champions League football in an unlikely end of season scenario.
‘s Reds are currently fifth and hold on to the final spot for next season.
Liverpool and Bournemouth could face off in a dramatic play-off to decide Champions League football Credit: Shutterstock
Reds boss Arne Slot is set for a nervy end to the season as he bids to finish in the top five Credit: Getty
The Cherries have already qualified for Europe but a superb end to the season has them pushing for the elite competition.
After ‘s triumph, Bournemouth can seal Champions League football with a sixth placed finish – but only if Villa come fifth.
Villa are fourth as it stands and three points ahead of Liverpool ahead of the final day.
face at Anfield in their season finale, while Villa play Man City away.
face away in their last game of the season.
Catching Liverpool in fifth place is unlikely for Bournemouth, despite being just three points off the Reds.
That’s because Slot’s side have a superior goal difference of six, so they would have to lose heavily against Brentford for Bournemouth to overtake them.
However, there is a highly unlikely scenario where Bournemouth could trigger an incredible play-off game with Liverpool to decide the final Champions League spot.
Iraola’s Bournemouth could get Champions League by finishing sixth if results go their way Credit: Getty
It would require Liverpool to lose 1-0 to Brentford and Bournemouth to smash Forest 5-0 on Sunday.
That would leave both teams on identical goals scored, goals conceded as well as head to head and goals scored against each other.
According to the Premier League’s rule C.17, this scenario would lead to a never-before-seen situation where the two teams would battle it out in an end of the season clash.
The rule states: “If two Clubs cannot be separated by operation of Rule C.17.1 or C.17.2, a play-off on a neutral ground, the format, timing and venue of which shall be determined by the Board.”
The Cherries know their most likely route into the competition would be to match Brighton’s result against and hope Liverpool beat Brentford and Villa lose to City.
That would guarantee Bournemouth a spot courtesy of an unusual sixth-placed finish.
No matter what, the Cherries can celebrate a historic season that has seen them clinch Europe for the first time in their history.
Boss Andoni Iraola – who is leaving after their game against Forest – said: “It would be the best way to finish these amazing three seasons.
“Especially this year, it has been really challenging for me as a coach because we’ve changed the team a lot and we’ve changed, not completely our style, but it’s a different type of football comparing to last season.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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