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Liverpool may have to face West Ham in an end-of-season play-off to decide who qualifies for next season’s Europa League.

The Premier League have confirmed that an extra game at a neutral venue could take place if both clubs finish the season on the same points, goal difference and goals scored.

The Reds will secure a place in the group stage of the Champions League if they beat Sevilla in next Wednesday’s Europa League final in Basel.

However, if Jurgen Klopp’s side lose the final then they would be relying on their league position to qualify for the Europa League.

Liverpool currently sit eighth in the Premier League, three points and two places adrift of the Hammers.

But there is a scenario that if West Ham lose at Stoke City on Sunday and Liverpool beat West Brom then the two clubs will have identical records.

For example, if Slaven Bilic’s side are beaten 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium they will end up with 62 points, 64 goals scored and 50 conceded. If Liverpool were to win 2-1 at the Hawthorns their stats would be the same.

If that happened and Southampton failed to beat Crystal Palace then Liverpool and West Ham would finish tied for sixth place. A Saints win would still leave the prospect of Liverpool and West Ham locked together in seventh, which could still offer European football.

An extra game would only be played if the Reds lose the Europa League final.

Premier League rules state: “If at the end of the season either the league champions or the clubs to be relegated or the question of qualification for other competitions cannot be determined because two or more clubs are equal on points, goal difference and goals scored, the clubs concerned shall play off one or more deciding league matches on neutral grounds, the format, venue and timing of which shall be determined by the board.”

The team that finishes sixth in the Premier League will qualify for the Europa League. Seventh would also earn a European spot if Manchester United win the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.