Liverpool have received a major Champions League boost as FIFA has announced a restructuring of Europe’s premier club competition which also includes changing kick-off times as well as guaranteed entry to the group stages.
After finishing the Premier League in fourth place last season, we had to take part in a playoff in August against Hoffenheim in order to qualify for the group stages.
The new rules which were sanctioned on Tuesday and will take effect from next season mean that the top four sides from England, Spain, Italy and Germany will gain direct qualification to the group stages. In addition to this, the tournament will now have new kick-off times. The traditional kick-off time of 7:45 has been replaced by 5:55 and 8pm.
The news means that we now will not have to play in the playoffs regardless of where we finish in the top four. We are currently in 3rd position on the EPL standings and are expected to secure a top-four finish this term and qualify for next season’s Champions League. We are also likely to progress to the quarterfinals of this season’s Champions League as we won our last-16 first leg encounter against FC Porto 5-0.
Meanwhile, winning the Champions League or Europa League would also ensure our entry into the group stages of the former. However, if two teams who finish outside the top four in England win those tournaments, then the 4th-placed team would have to play in the playoffs.
Teams who finish in fifth and sixth position in the Premier League earn themselves a place in the Europa League.
This is indeed good news as we’d be able to avoid 2 extra games early in the season. However, this season shouldn’t be a worry as we are on course to finish the season in the top-3.
