With just two games left in the Premier League season, Liverpool fans are still holding their breath. Will the Reds secure their spot in the 2026/27 Champions League? Thanks to strong performances by English clubs in Europe this year—including Liverpool themselves—the path has gotten a bit smoother. For Arne Slot's side, finishing fifth in the domestic standings is now enough to punch a ticket to UEFA's premier competition.

That's why, even after a frustrating home draw against Chelsea on Saturday, Liverpool still boasts a 97.34% chance of Champions League football next season, according to Opta. Not bad for a team that's been grinding through a tense finish.

The next big test? A road clash against Aston Villa—their direct rivals for fourth place. Meanwhile, sixth-placed Bournemouth is lurking after their win at Fulham, hoping to crash the top-five party. Brighton also has a mathematical shot at fifth, but only if they win both remaining matches and either Liverpool or Villa loses both of theirs. And here's a twist: if Aston Villa wins the Europa League and finishes fifth, even sixth place in the Premier League would earn a Champions League berth.

So, what does Liverpool need to do? The simplest path is a win at Villa Park on Friday night. That would lock in a top-five finish and let the Reds breathe easy heading into their final-day home match against Brentford. A draw would keep them in fourth place and likely mean they just need to match Villa's result on the last day—thanks to a much better goal difference.

Even a loss on Friday might not be the end of the world. Brighton would need maximum points, and Bournemouth would require at least four points plus a big swing in goal difference. It's tight, but Liverpool's fate is still very much in their own hands.