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Liverpool may have almost certainly qualified for Europe – but they could face starting next season on July 2.

Only a freak set of circumstances will prevent Brendan Rodgers’ side from competing in the Europa League next season.

But the stage at which the Reds enter the competition remains very much in the balance.

Having missed the chance to secure fifth place with victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, Liverpool, who have 62 points, now need to win their final game at Stoke City next Sunday to guarantee their Europa League berth.

If they lose or draw and both sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur (on 61 points, who are at Everton) and seventh-placed Southampton (on 60 points, who travel to Manchester City) win, the Reds will drop to seventh.

So what are the scenarios facing Rodgers and his players?

If Liverpool maintain their position and finish fifth, they will progress directly to the Europa League group stage, which begins on September 17.

It’s a similar situation if they finish sixth and Arsenal – who have already earned Champions League qualification – beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.

However, if Rodgers’ men end the season in sixth and Villa win the Cup, they will start in the third qualifying round – which begins on July 30 – and must also negotiate a play-off round to reach the group stages.

They must do the same if they drop to seventh and Arsenal lift the FA Cup.

Things, though, become more complicated if Liverpool end up seventh and Villa win at Wembley. Normally, that would rule them out of Europe.

But England have been given an extra place in the Europa League through Fair Play, and with Liverpool top of the most recent Premier League Fair Play table, they would be awarded the extra place.

And that would require them to begin their Europa League trek in the first qualifying round on July 2 and negotiate four rounds before even reaching the group stages.

This could prompt an issue, with Liverpool already committed to a tour of Australia and the Far East that dates of which clash with those for the second qualifying round.

The only way Liverpool cannot qualify for Europe is if they finish seventh in the table, Aston Villa win the FA Cup and West Ham United or Everton overhaul them in the Fair Play Table.

It means a victory at the Britannia next Sunday would spare the Anfield side a lot of potential headaches.