How many points Liverpool needs for Champions League place after huge Everton win

Liverpool has firmly established itself in the race to qualify for the Champions League places, with five games left to play for Arne Slot's men in a tough campaign

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Andrew Kearns / CameraSport)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was delighted with his side's last-gasp winner at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the Reds' place in the Champions League spots now looking considerably more secure.

Slot's men will definitely finish above Chelsea, Brentford and Bournemouth — who are all currently tied on 48 points — if they win three out of their five remaining fixtures. Liverpool will definitely be ahead of Chelsea or Brentford with only two wins, if one of those victories comes against those sides.

Aston Villa also won on Sunday, coming out 4-3 victors over Sunderland in a goal-filled clash at Villa Park, with Unai Emery's men third and three points ahead of Liverpool.

As a result, Slot's men can begin to look up rather than down in the Premier League standings. Manchester United in third is also three points ahead, with a game against the Reds still to come at Old Trafford.

Next up, Chelsea goes to Brighton midweek, in a game brought forward because of its involvement in next weekend's FA Cup semi-finals. Any slip there would further reduce the work that Liverpool needs to do.

Liverpool ends the season with matches against Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford.

"We've got five more games left against teams that are also fighting for the Champions League spots. Every game is a big one," Van Dijk told Sky Sports.

"Like I said, we are very disappointed as a whole for the season that we're having because of the quality we have. It's below standards.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot after his team beat Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"But we have to keep fighting, keep going and make the best out of this poor season we're having. That's the reality, onto the next.

"Today was a good three points and next up is Crystal Palace at home, who we couldn't beat for many, many games before."

Earlier this weekend, Chelsea lost at home to Manchester United with Matheus Cunha scoring the only goal in that game. Liam Rosenior admitted after that result that his team was up against it to catch up with Liverpool.

"They've had one shot on our goal when we're down to 10 men off an injury and score," Rosenior said of Chelsea's latest setback.

"And then we have wave after wave of attack, crosses in the box, moments we don't take advantage of. I think we've hit the woodwork four or five times.

"What we can't do is get into a cycle where we feel like it's not going to be our day or we feel sorry for ourselves because we have to keep working. We have to turn this around.

"But I can't, I will never lie, I can't speak on things that I don't see. I saw a team that were dominant.

"We were dominant from the first moment of the game to the last. But we have to take care of our moments better. And that's what's costing us points at this moment in time.

"It gives us a mountain to climb. It's not insurmountable but it gives us a mountain to climb and we have to go into Brighton with an idea that we have to win that game and kick-start the rest of our season."