Five reasons Liverpool will miss out on Champions League qualification

Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp LEICESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Liverpool at The King Power Stadium on February 27, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Rachel Holborn - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp LEICESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Liverpool at The King Power Stadium on February 27, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Rachel Holborn - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney lifts the trophy after the EFL Cup final between Manchester United and Southampton on February 26 at Wembley Stadium, London. (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney lifts the trophy after the EFL Cup final between Manchester United and Southampton on February 26 at Wembley Stadium, London. (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Manchester United

The clubs that are ahead of Liverpool certainly present an issue, but it is one of their greatest rivals right behind them that could end up bringing them quite a bit of misery come season’s end.

Fresh off their 3-2 victory in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium, Manchester United and manager Jose Mourinho are beginning to put serious pressure on the Reds and the Premier League top four.

With a game in-hand on Liverpool and only a point back, Liverpool are in danger of even losing the fifth-place spot to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

United have won their last six matches across all competitions and are unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League fixtures.

The attack with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been potent, while strong defending and stellar goalkeeping from David de Gea keep matches in front of the Red Devils.

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Europa League and FA Cup commitments will take their toll, and difficult league encounters against Chelsea and Manchester City remain for Mourinho’s side.

But with Manchester United in such sparkling form and Liverpool unable to find consistent results, the Reds could find themselves out of Europe altogether for the 2017-18 season.