Liverpool's next six fixtures compared to European…

Liverpool's next six fixtures compared to European rivals after stunning Newcastle result

Liverpool's hopes of making a late surge for the Champions League places were dealt a huge blow on Sunday afternoon as Newcastle United stormed to a remarkable 6-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park.

Heading into the Super Sunday fixture, Reds supporters had hoped that fifth-placed Spurs could be able to do them a slight favour ahead of the final weeks of the Premier League season. Victory for Tottenham would have kept Liverpool's gap to the Magpies at six points - with both teams crucially having played 31 games.

However, the stunning result sees the Reds stay firmly in the rear-view mirror. They are now nine points below Newcastle, who jump above Manchester United into third on goal difference. Man United have a game in hand on both Liverpool and the Magpies.

PAUL GORST: Sadio Mane is not the player Liverpool have missed most and yesterday proved it

IAN DOYLE: Mohamed Salah chases Steven Gerrard as Ibrahima Konate gets into trouble

However, Newcastle's hopes of securing a return to Europe's premier club competition for the first since 2002/03 will be tested in the coming weeks when they face Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal and Chelsea, offering Jurgen Klopp's side a slight consolation that their rivals could still be caught.

But in order to do so, Liverpool will need to build on their back-to-back league victories over Leeds United and Nottingham Forest when they take on West Ham United at the London Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Here are how the Reds' fixtures compare to those still in the hunt for a Champions League place.

Liverpool

West Ham (A) - Wednesday, April 26

Tottenham (H) - Sunday, April 30

Fulham (H) - Wednesday, May 3

Brentford (H) - Saturday, May 6

Leicester City (A) - Monday, May 15

Aston Villa (H) - Saturday, May 20

Newcastle

Everton (A) - Thursday, April 27

Southampton (H) - Sunday, April 30

Arsenal (H) - Sunday, May 7