Mersey derby could settle Champions League race

LONDON – Liverpool head into the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Sunday knowing that victory would just about kill off Everton’s hopes of Champions League football next season.

Liverpool occupy the vital fourth place – worth a slot in the Champions League qualifiers – on 59 points, two ahead of Everton with a superior goal difference of nine. With only six games remaining after this weekend, the Blues can ill-afford to slip up.However, while Everton’s attention is focused on the league run-in, Liverpool will be diverted by the Champions League, where they face Arsenal twice either side of another meeting with them in the league in the first eight days of April.If Liverpool do go on to reach a third final in four seasons, Everton fans will have a bigger incentive than usual to will them to lose if their side finish fourth in May.A Liverpool win would guarantee them a Champions League return at Everton’s expense.Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005 but were pipped by Everton for fourth spot in the league and needed a Uefa rule change to allow them to enter the following season’s competition in the qualifying rounds.Uefa then amended the regulations to ensure there was no repeat of a country having five clubs in the group stage.This will probably not be necessary if Liverpool repeat their controversial victory at Goodison Park in October, when Dirk Kuyt scored two penalties in a 2-1 win that has left Everton fans seething ever since.The Dutchman had been lucky to escape a red card for an earlier wild lunge at Phil Neville, while Everton, who finished with nine men, were furious that their own clear claim for a late penalty was turned down.Both sides dropped points last week as Liverpool lost 3-0 to Manchester United and Everton were held to a 1-1 home draw by West Ham United having lost at Fulham in their previous game.Everton, who have a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Portsmouth, are aiming higher than another crack at the Uefa Cup, which they exited on penalties to Fiorentina two weeks ago.Manchester United can extend their lead to eight points at home to Aston Villa tomorrow with second-placed Chelsea not hosting Middlesbrough until Sunday.Last weekend’s matches swung things heavily in favour of United retaining the title just a few weeks after Arsenal led – a run of four draws and a defeat, Sunday’s 2-1 reverse at Chelsea, leaves them six points adrift of the leaders.Arsene Wenger’s team have slipped to third on 67 points, one behind Chelsea, and face an awkward trip to Bolton Wanderers where they have lost on their last three league visits and drawn the two before that.Nampa-ReutersWith only six games remaining after this weekend, the Blues can ill-afford to slip up.However, while Everton’s attention is focused on the league run-in, Liverpool will be diverted by the Champions League, where they face Arsenal twice either side of another meeting with them in the league in the first eight days of April.If Liverpool do go on to reach a third final in four seasons, Everton fans will have a bigger incentive than usual to will them to lose if their side finish fourth in May.A Liverpool win would guarantee them a Champions League return at Everton’s expense.Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005 but were pipped by Everton for fourth spot in the league and needed a Uefa rule change to allow them to enter the following season’s competition in the qualifying rounds.Uefa then amended the regulations to ensure there was no repeat of a country having five clubs in the group stage.This will probably not be necessary if Liverpool repeat their controversial victory at Goodison Park in October, when Dirk Kuyt scored two penalties in a 2-1 win that has left Everton fans seething ever since.The Dutchman had been lucky to escape a red card for an earlier wild lunge at Phil Neville, while Everton, who finished with nine men, were furious that their own clear claim for a late penalty was turned down.Both sides dropped points last week as Liverpool lost 3-0 to Manchester United and Everton were held to a 1-1 home draw by West Ham United having lost at Fulham in their previous game.Everton, who have a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Portsmouth, are aiming higher than another crack at the Uefa Cup, which they exited on penalties to Fiorentina two weeks ago.Manchester United can extend their lead to eight points at home to Aston Villa tomorrow with second-placed Chelsea not hosting Middlesbrough until Sunday.Last weekend’s matches swung things heavily in favour of United retaining the title just a few weeks after Arsenal led – a run of four draws and a defeat, Sunday’s 2-1 reverse at Chelsea, leaves them six points adrift of the leaders.Arsene Wenger’s team have slipped to third on 67 points, one behind Chelsea, and face an awkward trip to Bolton Wanderers where they have lost on their last three league visits and drawn the two before that.Nampa-Reuters