Micah Richards has tipped Liverpool and Leicester to clinch the final two Champions League places on the final day of the season and thinks Chelsea will drop out of the top four.
Liverpool’s 3-0 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, which saw them go above Leicester into fourth on goal difference, has ensured that the race for the top four will go down to the wire.
Chelsea head into their clash against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday in third place on 67 points, while Jurgen Klopp’s side host Crystal Palace at Anfield trailing the Blues by a point.
Leicester, meanwhile, are also on 66 points but have a goal difference of 20, compared to Liverpool’s 24.
The Foxes play Tottenham at the King Power Stadium on the final day knowing they are reliant on the teams above them dropping points.
And that’s what Richards thinks will transpire as he backed Chelsea to slip up, and Leicester and Liverpool to book their place in next season’s Champions League.
‘I’m going to say Chelsea draw at Villa and Leicester beat Spurs,’ ex-Manchester City defender Richards told Sky Sports.
‘I think Liverpool will get the job done.
‘If there’s one turn that’s what I can see happening. Just because Chelsea have now got their eye on the Champions League final.’
Goals from Roberto Firmino, Nat Phillips – his first for the club – and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wrapped up the win for Liverpool over Burnley, and Klopp labelled the game as the ‘semi-final’ before Sunday’s ‘final’ against Palace.
‘I couldn’t be more pleased,’ Klopp said.
‘It is not that we took these things for granted. This season has been incredibly tough and February was the last time we were in the top four and we didn’t win a lot of games since then.
‘In the last eight, 10 games, I don’t know how many, we are back on track. If we win on Sunday then we are probably qualified for the Champions League.
‘It’s insane that we came this close but we are not through yet. When you win the semi-final you go to a final and that’s where we are. We will give our absolute everything.’
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