For Liverpool, they can guarantee UEFA Champions League football next season by winning one of their upcoming games- Sunday at Chelsea or May 26 in the final versus Real Madrid.
Even if they should lose both, the Reds are still all but certain to get back to Europe next season, as their spot in the Premier League top four is all but clinched. Obviously, beating the two time defending European champions is the preferred route, with the prestige and the ยฃ69 million payday it brings.
The allure of Champions League football is an important major recruiting tool in the summer transfer window, and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is feeling very confident about the appeal of his recruiting pitch this summer. According to the latest football news, players have taken notice of what what LFC have accomplished in Europe already.
โWith the players we talked to [already], nobody has said โif you donโt do it in end itโs all for nothing.’ Thatโs all clear, we battle and challenge with the best football clubs in the world,” said Klopp during his prematch news conference today.
Video of the full session is embedded below:
โAnd whatever you can do to bring yourself in the better position to get these players you should do it. In this moment we are quite attractive. We pay good wages, we pay absolutely OK transfer fees, so we can go for a few really good players.
โBut other teams are interested in them as well. Thatโs always how it is,” he continued. “There are a few โsoftโ factors, and a few โharderโ factors, which help the boys to make the right decisionโand the right decision would be to join us!”
โItโs clear, if you are qualified for theย Champions Leagueย itโs easier to convince specific players.โ
Antonio Conte press conference video, notable quotes:ย go to this link
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction:ย go to this link
Chelsea Starting XI Prediction:ย go to this link
Injury, Fitness, Team News for both sides:ย go to this link
Betting Odds:ย Chelsea FC win:ย 23/20ย ย Liverpool win:ย 9/4ย ย Draw:ย 5/2
Prediction: Chelsea FC 4, Liverpool 3
As always, feel free to post your own starting XIs and/or final score predictions in the comments section below.
Paul M. Banks runsย The Sports Bank.netย and TheBank.News, which is partnered withย News Now.ย Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times,ย NBC Chicago.comย andย Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly toย WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging communityย Chicago Now.
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