Liverpool are expected to battle Chelsea and Manchester United for two Champions League places with the three teams locked on 45 points following the Reds’ 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest
Kieran King Football Writer
17:39, 22 Feb 2026
Liverpool manager Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool moved level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for the Champions League with a dramatic late 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.
The Reds were heading for a share of the spoils at The City Ground up until Alexis Mac Allister – at the second time of asking – popped up with the winner in the 97th minute.
Mac Allister, who thought he had netted the winner seven minutes before, ended up getting the all-important winning goal deep into stoppage-time as he slammed the ball home from close-range.
Virgil van Dijk’s initial header was kept out by Forest goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, only for Mac Allister to follow up from the rebound and lash the ball into the back of the net.
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It was a goal that meant Liverpool won a second straight Premier League game to move them to within touching distance of the Champions League places. Indeed, the result has moved the Reds level on points with fifth-place Manchester United and Chelsea in fourth with 11 matches to go. It has also increased the gap on Brentford in seventh to five points and eight-place Bournemouth to seven points.
Arne Slot’s side have put themselves in a strong position to push for a Champions League spot now, but how the fixture schedule look for the challenging sides? Here, The Echo has taken a look at Liverpool’s next five matches compared to Chelsea and Manchester United in the top-five race….
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Chelsea (4th place, 45 points)
Arsenal (A) – Sunday, March 1 (4:30pm) – Premier League
Aston Villa (A) – Wednesday, March 4 (7:30pm) – Premier League
Newcastle (H) – Saturday, March 14 (5:30pm) – Premier League
Everton (A) – Saturday, March 21 (5:30pm) – Premier League
Man City (H) – Saturday, April 11 (TBC) – Premier League
Man United (5th place, 45 points)
Everton (A) – Monday, February 23 (8pm) – Premier League
Crystal Palace (H) – Sunday, March 1 (2pm) – Premier League
Newcastle United (A) – Wednesday, March 4 (8:15pm) – Premier League
Aston Villa (H) – Sunday, March 15 (2pm) – Premier League
Bournemouth (A) – Friday, March 20 (8pm) – Premier League
Liverpool (6th place, 45 points)
West Ham (H) – Saturday, February 28 (3pm) – Premier League
Wolves (A) – Tuesday, March 3 (8:15pm) – Premier League
Tottenham (H) – Sunday, March 15 (4:30pm) – Premier League
Brighton (A) – Saturday, March 21 (12:30pm) – Premier League
Fulham (H) – Saturday, April 11 (TBC) – Premier League
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