Premier League oppose Reds' Champions League bid

The Premier League will resist any efforts to award Liverpool a place in next season’s Champions League should they win the competition this season but finish out of the top four in the Premiership.

The Football Association’s board are due to discuss the issue at a meeting tomorrow but will not make any decision until at least the semi-final between Chelsea and Liverpool has been played.

The dilemma is that Everton are favourites to finish fourth but were Liverpool to win the Champions League they could present a strong case for playing in the tournament next season.

Should those circumstances arise, it would be up to the FA board to decide but the Premier League – who have four seats on the board – feel strongly it should go to the fourth-placed side.

A Premier League source said: “This matter is a decision for the whole of English football, if and when it becomes necessary to make that decision.”

The FA’s plea to UEFA for a fifth place is almost certain to be rejected - their rules clearly state a maximum of four clubs per country are allowed.

The regulations state: “At the request of the national association concerned, the UEFA Champions League title-holders may be entered for this competition, as an additional representative of that association, if they have not qualified for the UEFA Champions League via the top domestic league championship.

“If, in such a case, the title-holders come from an association entitled to enter four teams for the UEFA Champions League, the fourth-placed club in the top domestic league championship has to be entered for the UEFA Cup.”

UEFA communications director William Gaillard said: “Should those circumstances arise it is up to the FA to make a decision.”