Liverpool are in line to secure their place at the expanded Club World Cup championships in 2025 as FIFA reportedly draw up new plans for qualification.
The international tournament, which was contested for the first time in 2000, sees the winners of each confederation's premier competition face off in a mini-tournament and is due to expand from its current four-team format to a 32-team competition in two years' time.
According to the Times, FIFA are exploring the idea of awarding places to European sides based on their UEFA coefficient ranking, with the remaining four spots awarded to the winners of the Champions League from 2022 to 2025.
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Writing in the Times, Martyn Ziegler said: "The system is under discussion between Fifa, UEFA and the European Club Association. UEFA’s club coefficients are calculated by performances in European competition over the previous five years."
Such a revamp would mean that Real Madrid, who defeated Liverpool in last season's final at the Stade de France, would be the first team in Europe to secure qualification for the overhauled finals.
But the current UEFA coefficient standings mean Liverpool are well-placed to be among the eight teams to also qualify for the finals, with the Reds currently sitting in third position for their efforts since returning to Europe's main stage in the autumn of 2017 due to reaching the final in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
Premier League foes Manchester City and Chelsea are also among the top five of UEFA's rankings, while Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United make up the remaining seven places.
The Times later explains that each country would be limited to two qualification places via the coefficient system. however, the overall representation could extend to four with an additional two teams securing their place as previous winners of the Champions League.
FIFA are yet to announce the venue for the 2025 competition, however, last week they declared Saudi Arabia as the host of the December finals later this year.
After winning the Champions League in 2019, Liverpool won the Club World Cup for the first time in their history as they defeated Mexican side Monterrey in the semi-finals before edging past Brazilian outfit Flamengo in a closely-contested final.
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