Liverpool FC Forum

[zarababe]

Personally I think we'll get 4th spot on goal difference  ..

..but the BBC are reporting that the FA are meeting today to decide who they would enter in to the CL competition should we win and not finish 4th.

UEFA are also going to look at the sscenario ahead of next seasons competition..

[PhiLFC]

Well I'd like us to win the CL and forget about what happens next season - if they don't let us in to defend it then that's their mistake... lets get the silverware first.

[dawson99]

heres what alan hansen thinks:

Everton's hold on fourth place in the Premiership has every chance of becoming permanent should they beat Newcastle United at a sell-out Goodison Park on Saturday.

David Moyes and his side have caused quite a few complications for those who expected them to fall away in the second half of the season, particularly after the sale of Thomas Gravesen.

There has even been talk that they are somehow creeping into the Champions League via the back door because those behind them have stumbled whenever they have had the chance to make up ground.

This happened again on Saturday, with Liverpool drawing and Bolton losing after Everton went down to Fulham.

Well I'm not having that.

Everton deserve to be fourth on the basis they have more points than the team in fifth. It's an old saying - but you judge it all by the league table.

The possibility that Everton would finish fourth has also stirred up a debate about who should take the last qualifying place in the Champions League if Liverpool won the tournament.

My view on this is quite simple. The rules are the rules, but the rules are wrong.

But I have to say that if Everton finish fourth they have got to be in the Champions League.


You can't play for a whole season then move the goalposts and change the rules right at the end simply because of a series of unforeseen events.

What I would say, however, is that the holders should always be able to defend their trophy.

From Everton's point of view, it has already been a fantastic season for them, irrespective of what happens now.

They qualified for the Uefa Cup with four games left - and even the most optimistic Evertonian would have been hard pushed to predict that back in August.

I am full of admiration for Moyes and his players for what they have achieved. It is a good story too because it is a success that has not been achieved on the back of massive spending.

Indeed Everton's success has been achieved on a shoestring, in relative terms.

Everton have had some unbelieveable results, and have had the happy knack of pulling out a big three points when they needed them.

What I hope is that if the situation evolves where Everton are fourth and Liverpool win the Champions League, good sense prevails at Uefa and they are both allowed in next season.

[YoungAdam]

On f365.com they say the FA have backed 4th place. Uh oh

[laza]

Bloody typical , this situation should never have been allowed to happen in the first place
Regardless of the who team is, they should have the right to defend their trophy

[Owen10-Gerrard8]

Remove one team from another country and have 5 english teams in the champions league

Lets beat everton in final!!!!!

[Scottbot]

Basically UEFA have screwed us. They said earlier this year that the decision was left ENTIRELY to the Association of that country (The FA). So they're saying to the FA that the ball is in their court.

They then come out and say that 4th place should really get priority but the decision still lies with the FA. So they make a very difficult decision for the FA easy by saying what they think should happen. Had they kept their gobs shut i think it was likely that the FA would rule in favour of us (should we win it) on the grounds that a precedent had been set in Spain a few years earlier.

What really gets me is the hypocrisy. When the Spanish FA decided to enter Madrid into the Champs League at the expense of the 4th place team (Villareal) a few years ago do you think UEFA made even a single noise about 4th place taking priority over the European Champions?

Of course not. UEFA wouldn't dream of saying something that might exclude their flag-ship team of galacticos from the biggest club competition in the world. What would the sponsors think about that?

Fuc.king wan.kers the lot of them. If we can go and win this thing i don't know that i even care about not being in it next season

Rant over.

[xd3vilx]

Basically UEFA have screwed us. They said earlier this year that the decision was left ENTIRELY to the Association of that country (The FA). So they're saying to the FA that the ball is in their court.

They then come out and say that 4th place should really get priority but the decision still lies with the FA. So they make a very difficult decision for the FA easy by saying what they think should happen. Had they kept their gobs shut i think it was likely that the FA would rule in favour of us (should we win it) on the grounds that a precedent had been set in Spain a few years earlier.

What really gets me is the hypocrisy. When the Spanish FA decided to enter Madrid into the Champs League at the expense of the 4th place team (Villareal) a few years ago do you think UEFA made even a single noise about 4th place taking priority over the European Champions?

Of course not. UEFA wouldn't dream of saying something that might exclude their flag-ship team of galacticos from the biggest club competition in the world. What would the sponsors think about that?

Fuc.king wan.kers the lot of them. If we can go and win this thing i don't know that i even care about not being in it next season

Rant over.

If Is Not Villarreal...It Is Real Zaragoza

[xd3vilx]

-----------------------------------------------------------
FA set to decide Liverpool's fate 
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David Moyes and Rafael Benitez are vying for fourth place
The Football Association is set to decide on Thursday who will take the final Champions League spot for next season if Liverpool win the tournament.
If the Reds beat AC Milan in the final and finish behind Everton in the league the FA would have the final decision.

Uefa has said it would not allow five English clubs to take part but will look into changing the rule in future.

Everton are currently lying in fourth place in the Premiership, three points ahead of Liverpol in the table.

The FA's professional game board is meeting at Soho Square to finalise their position if Liverpool are crowned European champions.

Uefa has stated it would not allow Rafael Benitez's team to automatically enter next season's Champions League as holders.

"You cannot change the rule at this late stage of the season," insisted Uefa spokesman William Gaillard.

"For future seasons, say from 2006-2007, the executive committee may look to change the rule. But for next season the rule stays at it is.

"The English Premiership has four places and it would be unfair to tell another national association that they have lost one of theirs."

[dawson99]

in all honesty, everton should get it as the rules state. im not saying the rules are right, but they are the rules.
plus, if we do win the whole thing, then we are champions... and next year we can cnocentrate on the league.

[Adebisi]

Are they going to reveal the decision before or after the final?

[xd3vilx]

There Are Still Uefa Cup To Play...By Rite Even Though I Am Liverpool Fan But I Feel That Everton Should Go To Champion League...They Beat As In 4th Spot Fair And Square...

[scouseblue]

to make it fair both teams should go through, but i cant see that happening.

if only one team does get it then it is not going to be fair either way.

everton should get it because they have worked hard this season and liverpool should obviously get to defend their win.

its still not 100% you will win and we will keep 4th place, so no need to worry just yet, although i think that is how it will turn out. sods law.

[7_Kewell]

if we win the Champions leaguie then how can we not be in it?  Everton could lose in the play off stage and not get anywhere....then how stupid will the FA look?

[xd3vilx]

if we win the Champions leaguie then how can we not be in it?  Everton could lose in the play off stage and not get anywhere....then how stupid will the FA look?

Not Stupid...They Will Look Very Stupid...I Can't See Man Utd And Arsenal Winning The CL Next Season...