Liverpool will be desperate to qualify for the Champions League next season, either by virtue of winning the competition or finishing in the top four.
Unbelievably, the defending Premier League champions have now perhaps got a better chance of lifting the European Cup in May than they have of being eligible through positioning in the top flight.
Indeed, the Reds have won just one game in their last seven domestic fixtures while having recorded six consecutive defeats at Anfield in the competition for the first time in the club's history too.
On the continent, however, Jurgen Klopp's men are unbeaten - having won all but one dead rubber group game while scoring 16 goals and conceding just once while progressing into the quarter-finals.
Back on home soil though, they sit in eighth place in the Premier League - a full eight points behind Chelsea in fourth having amassed a total of 43 points from 28 games while West Ham in fifth have a game in hand on the Reds and sit on 48 points.
Average point totals over the last decade show third position in the Premier League normally achieving 73 points with fourth amassing 71, which means Liverpool will have to win every single game from now until the end of the season in order to reach such levels while only affording to drop points in one game to accrue the average for the final all-important Champions League slot.
It seems like a tough ask for Klopp's side and leaves them little wiggle room.
However, Liverpool have been in an even worse position before and still managed to qualify for the European Cup.
Back in the 2003/04 season, the Reds managed to amass 42 points with 10 games remaining.
The four sides below them were all within three points but they were 16 points behind Manchester United in third at the time.
A mitigating factor must be considered in that they were only one point behind Charlton Athletic in fourth. but over their final 10 games, Gerard Houllier's side would win five games, draw three and lose two to finish in fourth on 60 points.
They remained 15 points behind United but finished four clear of Newcastle in fifth.
Of course, that campaign took place more than 15 years ago and will be cited as having little to no impact on the current standings in today's game.
However, last season in the Premier League with only 10 games to go Manchester United had also won 42 points before going on to finish inside the top four.
At the time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were eight points behind third and three points behind Chelsea in fourth while three teams sat within two points below them - one even holding a game in hand.
The Old Trafford Club won seven of their remaining 10 games while drawing the other three to finish on 66 points in third.
Chelsea also finished on 66 points but were placed fourth on goal difference.
Such events highlight how form can change at the business end of a season and should give Liverpool hope that a strong performance in the top flight will give them every chance of playing in Europe's elite competition next term - even if they don't win the competition this time out.
