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Could tough run-in harm Liverpool's Champions League chances?

Liverpool v Tottenham (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Chris Collinson

BBC football statistician

With fifth place likely to lead to Champions League qualification again, just three points separate Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool for a place in the top five, with one of those sides looking set to miss out.

Some would say Aston Villa have the easiest run-in of the quartet. After a tough trip to Old Trafford this weekend, they face four of the bottom six in their next six games, although whether playing sides fighting for survival is an advantage at this stage is debatable.

Liverpool are the team currently outside the top five. They have the chance to build momentum against a run of mid-table sides before tackling a daunting series of games in May when they play all three of their Champions League-chasing rivals in succession.

Liverpool's roller-coaster run

Premier League games unless stated

Liverpool

Liverpool have suffered contrasting fortunes over the last 10 days, bouncing back from a shock Premier League defeat at basement club Wolves with a comfortable win at Molineux in the FA Cup before being edged out by Galatasaray in the away leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

Arne Slot's side enjoyed a decent run in the league before that surprise loss at Wolves, bouncing back from a home defeat against Manchester City with three consecutive wins.

They will be hoping to claw back Galatasaray in the home leg on Wednesday, but before that will aim to reboot their race for a top-five place when they return to Anfield on Sunday to host struggling Tottenham in the Premier League.

Liverpool's last eight results:

08 Feb: Liverpool 1-2 Man City

11 Feb: Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

14 Feb: Liverpool 3-0 Brighton (FA Cup)

22 Feb: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool

28 Feb: Liverpool 5-2 West Ham

03 Mar: Wolves 2-1 Liverpool

06 Mar: Wolves 1-3 Liverpool (FA Cup)

10 Mar: Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool (Champions League)

Reds suffer with set-pieces again

Liverpool's vulnerability from corners has been a thorny issue all season - and so it proved again in the 1-0 defeat by Galatasaray in midweek. Only West Ham (15), Chelsea (12) and Nottingham Forest (12) have let in more among Premier League sides.

The goal that decided the first leg came after Victor Osimhen was allowed to rise unchallenged to meet Sara's corner, and the Nigeria forward headed it straight to Lemina to finish on a bitterly frustrating night for the visitors.

While Istanbul may evoke memories of celebration for Liverpool fans after their extraordinary comeback win over AC Milan in the 2005 final, the Reds have now failed to win in four away games against Galatasaray.

Having lost 1-0 to the Turkish champions in the league phase back in September, this was a test to see if Slot's side had learned lessons.

The answer soon became apparent when they conceded early, while there was huge relief when Osimhen's goal - which would have been his eighth in this season's competition - was ruled out after Ibrahima Konate got his feet in a tangle.

A 2-0 deficit would have left Liverpool facing an enormous task in the return, yet they are still going to have to come from behind to reach the quarter-finals.

Failure to get through - just as they did last season with a last-16 exit against Paris St-Germain - will only increase the pressure on Slot's position.

Good morning

Happy Friday!

It's a return to Premier League action this weekend which means it's also a return to a busy day of live news conferences.

We'll bring you each and every one of them throughout the day starting with Liverpool's Arne Slot in the next 30 minutes or so.

Race for the title, race for the Champions League and the race to try and retain top flight status - all of that and more will be on the agenda today.

Strap yourselves in - as a safety measure from the wind out there if anything - and let's get into it.

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