Liverpool closed the gap on Newcastle United on Wednesday night, and Michael Owen now thinks the Reds will finish in the top four if they can maintain their form in the next six games.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 thanks to goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. The win lifts the Reds up to sixth above Fulham, and within just two points of Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s team have dropped off since the turn of the year, and are no longer in the top four. They were dumped out by Tottenham, but can replace them if they win their games in hand.
However, that is easier said than done given the Magpies’ recent run of form. And they also have Liverpool chasing them down.
The Reds could go above Newcastle this weekend depending on results. We travel to Manchester City, while they entertain Manchester United at Anfield.
There are still plenty of twists and turns to go in the race to qualify for the Champions League, but it feels like Liverpool are the team with momentum – despite being down in sixth right now.
Michael Owen makes Champions League prediction
Following Liverpool’s win over Wolves, the Premier League’s official website looked at their next six fixtures. They have an incredibly difficult run that sees them face Manchester United, Bournemouth, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Leeds.
It could be a season defining few weeks for Liverpool, and Owen thinks they will finish in the top four if they come out of this upcoming run unscathed.
“If they’re [Liverpool] no further away from the top four after that run of fixtures then they’ll do it – I’m convinced of it,” he said.
“That is defining. They could be out of it if they go on a poor run in that then they could be 10 or 12 points adrift with eight games to go. It would be all over.
“But if they’re still within three, four, five points of the top four after those set of fixtures then they’ll do it.”
Newcastle at risk of falling away
If Liverpool do what Owen says and are still in touch of the top four after this upcoming run, they will certainly be confident about qualifying for the Champions League. They could soon replace Newcastle as the best placed team to challenge Tottenham.
The Magpies have a much kinder run of games on the horizon. Our next six fixtures are Man City, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Man United, West Ham and Brentford. You would rather have that run than Liverpool’s, but they also have the benefit of not being bang out of form.
Howe needs to give his side a lift after the Carabao Cup final disappointment, and that is going to be very difficult away to the Premier League champions.
But Newcastle need to improve soon, otherwise they could slip further down the table and lose major ground in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
The top three places appear to be sewn up, meaning there is just one to play for. And Owen thinks it is Liverpool’s – if they don’t lose much ground over the next six games.
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