Wayne Rooney makes decisive Champions League prediction after Liverpool derby win

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The Reds boosted their top-five hopes in what could prove to be a pivotal weekend in the Premier League, as Chelsea lost further ground on those in the driving seat

Wayne Rooney has said he thinks Liverpool will secure a top-five place finish in the Premier League(Image: Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney believes Liverpool will fend off Chelsea and secure a top-five finish in the final weeks of the season.

It proved to be a disastrous weekend for the Blues, who lost 1-0 to Manchester United at home on Saturday, before Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa and Liverpool won the following day.

It means there is now a seven-point gap between Liverpool and Chelsea in fifth and sixth, while Liam Rosenior’s side trail United and Villa by 10 points. Having lost four on the bounce, and with an FA Cup semi-final next week, few expect Chelsea to overturn that points gap in the final five league matches of the season.

“I think that is how the top five will finish. That is set. The gap is a bit too big for Chelsea,” said Rooney on Sunday’s Match of the Day.

“The form hasn’t been great. I thought Chelsea played well against United but didn’t take the chances and it’s proved costly.”

Chelsea heads to Brighton on Tuesday in one of three midweek league matches which have been rearranged for the FA Cup semi-finals.

Failure to take all three points at the Amex could prove costly, and by next weekend, there’s a chance United and Villa will secure a top-five finish.

United dealt Chelsea a fresh setback in the race for the top five(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool will have to wait, but has put itself in a fantastic position thanks to consecutive Premier League wins since the March international break.

The Reds host Palace on Saturday before back-to-back matches against United, Chelsea and Villa.

Despite the negativity surrounding this season, participation in the Champions League would help Arne Slot’s position and boost the Reds’ financial outlook heading into the summer window.

Slot may guide Liverpool to a top-five finish at the end of a difficult season(Image: Getty Images)

Asked about the gap to Chelsea after Sunday’s Merseyside derby victory, Slot said: “That's very important because we are, as everyone can understand, focused on qualifying for the Champions League.

“But I think in the lead up to this game it was not as much about the league table, it's also about representing Liverpool and four days ago we paid our respect for the enormous tragedy that happened in Hillsborough.

“But we also use this for the game today because it's a privilege to represent this club and today they showed what it means to the players to represent this club.

“And the fans were, as they've been throughout the whole season, a big, big, big support for us. And to beat them then in the first game in their new stadium after what I just said, the week we had, is an enormous compliment to everybody involved in Liverpool FC.”