Jurgen Klopp has said it would not be cool if Arsenal and Chelsea denied Liverpool a spot in next season's Champions League.
The Reds, who are in action against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, are still in with a shout of sealing a top-four finish in the Premier League, although they have little room for error in their remaining games.
But even if they finish fourth, there's no guarantee Klopp will be leading his side into European football's elite club competition in 2021/22.
That is because Liverpool are facing a nightmare scenario in which they can finish fourth and still be denied entry into the Champions League - because of Arsenal and Chelsea.
As per UEFA rules, a maximum of five clubs per country are allowed into the competition.
This would include the winners of this season's Champions League and Europa League whose reward for lifting the trophy is an automatic route to the group phase.
With Chelsea and Arsenal well-placed to reach the respective European finals, it means they could join both Manchester clubs and Leicester City (the current top three in the Premier League) in the competition next season.
That is regardless of where either London club finishes.
Now, the Blues are favourites to finish fourth - or possibly third - but if they slip out of the top-four, winning the Champions League will act as their safety net provided they overcome Real Madrid to reach the final.
Whereas Arsenal would need a miracle to claim a top-four finish, but can seal a return to the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
With the threat of Liverpool finishing fourth and dropping into the Europa League because of Chelsea and Arsenal a possibility, Klopp has delivered his verdict.
"It is not nice if you are fourth and then you get kicked out because of another team winning the Champions League. That's not cool," he said, as per the Daily Mail. "These are the rules at the moment so we have to accept them and if they are wrong, then we have to change them.
"But at the moment, we have to work with that.
"There is a good chance again of having two all-English finals in Europe. That makes it really tricky. You could end up with six teams (qualifying) in the Champions League.
"I have no problem with that. I would love it."
To make matters worse for Klopp and Liverpool fans, they may have to cheer for Manchester United against Arsenal if the Reds finish fourth and both European finals are all-English.
