Chelsea twist makes Liverpool picture clearer as Arsenal may have just helped Arne Slot

Chelsea missed out on a place in the Carabao Cup final after defeat to Arsenal, which makes the top-four race in the Premier League a little clearer now for Liverpool

Chelsea missed out on the chance to reach the Carabao Cup final after defeat to Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)

Chelsea’s hopes of claiming the first major trophy of the season are over, but its defeat to Arsenal may have just made the top-four picture a little clearer.

The Blues missed out on a place at Wembley in next month’s final after being beaten 4-2 on aggregate by Mikel Arteta’s side. Having fallen to a 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge in January, Kai Havertz rubbed salt in the wounds of his former club as he scored the only goal at the death in Tuesday’s return leg at the Emirates Stadium.

That means Arsenal’s hopes of claiming an unprecedented quadruple this season remain intact, and in the process, the Gunners may have just made Liverpool’s task in the Premier League a bit more straightforward.

The Reds find themselves lagging behind both Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for the top four, with Arne Slot’s side’s chances of retaining their title having long been extinguished.

They’ll hope to salvage a place in next season’s Champions League, although they will need at least one slip-up from each of their rivals if they’re to claim a spot at Europe’s top table again.

Liverpool faces a fight to finish in the top four this season(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Had Chelsea reached Wembley, it would have complicated matters somewhat as it would have resulted in the Blues’ game against Everton on March 21 having to be rescheduled.

When Liverpool reached the Carabao Cup final last year, its game against Aston Villa had to be hastily brought forward, resulting in the Reds having played a game extra than its rivals for almost a month in the race for the title.

There will be no such issue in the race for fourth though, with Chelsea’s trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium set to remain on its intended date, while Arsenal will have to find a new date for its game against Wolves on March 21 - a game that should have no bearing on Liverpool.

Chelsea’s game against Everton comes amid a tough run of fixtures for the Blues, with Liam Rosenior’s side also set to face Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Manchester City and United from the start of March.

Liverpool will hope its rival suffers a few slip-ups during that time, with the Reds set for what could be an decisive end to the season.

Slot’s side is scheduled to meet both United and Chelsea at the start of May, before traveling to Aston Villa for the penultimate game of the season, and ending the campaign at home to Brentford, by which time it will hope to have wrapped up its spot in the top four.