“Thursday nights, Channel 5!”
It might be a decade since Channel 5 last aired the Europa League, but the terrace taunt is still not forgotten. And with Liverpool often finding themselves playing in the continent’s less prestigious competition, if they even qualified for Europe at all, prior to Jurgen Klopp ’s Anfield arrival, the Reds were on the receiving end of such mocking far more than they would have liked.
In truth, the tournament was kind to Liverpool in its previous guises, with only Sevilla able to better the Reds’ total of three wins in the tournament. And they would have been desperate to win the competition when losing to the La Liga outfit in the final in Klopp’s first season in charge.
But since then they have cemented their place as Champions League regulars. Hosting current Europa League holders Villarreal in the first leg of the semi-finals on Wednesday night, Liverpool will be looking to put one foot in their third final appearance in five years.
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Manchester United fans were perhaps more guilty than most of subjecting the Reds to such Channel 5 taunts, taking great joy in their fierce rivals not being able to enjoy the Champions League nights that were on display at Old Trafford. It’s ironic that the shoe is now on the other foot.
As Liverpool have risen, the Red Devils have sunk. And it was their 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United last week that booked their place in the Champions League group-stages for next season.
In contrast, after United followed up that loss with a 3-1 defeat away at fellow top-four challengers Arsenal, Red Devils boss Ralf Rangnick conceded defeat in being able to qualify for the Champions League.
"For me, even before the game it was not very likely, but after today's result it is gone, yes," the German said on Saturday. Six points behind the Gunners having played a game more and with four games left to play, it’s easy to see why he is waving the white flag.
In truth, United could now still miss out on Europe altogether. Currently sixth in the table on 54 points, West Ham United sit two points behind them while Wolves lie five points behind in eighth, having played a game less. Meanwhile, it’s still mathematically possible for both Newcastle United and Leicester City to overtake the Red Devils.
Should United miss out on qualifying for Europe, it will be the second time they have suffered such a fate since 1990. Yet fierce-rivals Liverpool, who all but ended their top four hopes in Rangnick’s eyes last week, have also handed them two European boosts.
In the Premier League, the top four qualify for the Champions League with fifth place and the FA Cup winners entering the Europa League group stage. Meanwhile, the Carabao Cup winners qualify for the Europa Conference League play-off.
United currently lie four points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, having played a game more. But, fortunately for their European hopes, Klopp’s side have already ensured more European qualification will be decided by league position.
The Reds won the League Cup in February, meaning their Europa Conference League qualifying spot from that competition will go to the next highest Premier League finisher without European football. And as they will take on Chelsea, who currently sit third, in next month’s FA Cup final, the respective Europa League qualifying spot is set to be handed to the next highest Premier League finisher too.
As a result, sixth place is poised to qualify for next season’s Europa League, while seventh place will earn you a spot in the Europa Conference League. Already reduced to a trophyless season, this all that Rangnick’s side have left to fight for.
United have had to get used to not always competing in the Champions League, though. After all, having been knocked out of the Europa League by Klopp’s Liverpool in the German’s first season with the club in 2016, they went on to win the tournament in 2017, lose in the semi-finals in 2020 and lose in the final in 2021.
In contrast, the Reds swiftly returned to Europe’s elite table, as they lost one Champions League final in 2018, won another in 2019 and are now hoping to book their place in this year’s showpiece in Paris. Yet you won’t find Liverpool supporters mocking the Red Devils for competing in the continent’s secondary or tertiary competitions next season.
Instead, they’ll be hoping to serenade the newly-crowned European Champions. Already England’s most successful side in European competition, reminders of how they have ‘conquered all of Europe’ are “never gonna stop” will continue.
And if United are going to have any chance of enjoying their own European success in 2022/23, they’ll have Liverpool’s domestic cup success this year to thank for it. Providing new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag with an unwelcome reminder of the size of the task he is walking into, how the mighty have fallen.
