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There was a crushing inevitability about Crystal Palace’s capitulation at the Etihad Stadium.

A fortnight on from their impressive win against Liverpool at Anfield, prompting Sam Allardyce to gloat about his side’s tactical brilliance, the Eagles were hammered by Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side only needed a two-goal victory to move above the Reds into third, but the further three goals means they have seized the initiative in the race for third.

Such a suggestion might bring a shrug to most Liverpool supporters. After all, it is the race for top four that matters; that is what will see Jurgen Klopp’s side return to the Champions League.

That is true, of course. While finishing as high as possible is always held as an aim, there is more importance to fending off Manchester United and Arsenal as opposed to pipping City to third.

Concentrate on finishing in the top four, rather than the top three. That should be the mantra between now and the end of the campaign.

That might change come August, however. A fourth-placed finish would see Liverpool take part in a playoff to reach the group stages, with the first leg on August 15 or August 16.

In the modern era, the Reds have never failed to progress from the playoff stage. FC Haka, Grazer AK, CSKA Sofia, Toulouse, Standard Liege and Maccabi Haifa.

But the Champions League format has now changed, with fourth in the Premier League entering a ‘non-champions’ pot.

That could mean facing off against other ‘non-champions’ from across Europe, such as those who finish fourth in Spain and Germany, as well as third in France, Italy and Portugal.

There is a lot left to be decided, of course; not least whether the Reds finish in the top four, let alone the top three.

But fourth would not necessarily be a guarantee. Here’s why...

How does the playoff round work now then?

Let’s ignore the ‘champions’ section of the fourth qualifying round, which will contain the title-winners from nations such as Bulgaria, Belarus, Scotland, Denmark and Greece.

Instead, it is the ‘non-champions’ section which affects Klopp’s side.

There will be 10 teams – five seeded, five unseeded – drawn into five ties, with the winners of those moving into the group stage.

With the Premier League being one of the best leagues in terms of coefficients, Liverpool would receive a bye into the fourth qualifying round.

They would be joined by the fourth-placed teams from Spain and Germany, as well as the third-placed teams from Italy and Portugal.

Where do the other five teams come from?

The previous round – the third qualifying round for ‘non-champions’ – which also involves 10 teams, with five seeded and five unseeded.

They consist of teams from (with finishing position in brackets):

Holland (2nd)

France (3rd)

Ukraine (2nd)

Russia (2nd)

Belgium (2nd)

Czech Republic (2nd)

Turkey (2nd)

Switzerland (2nd)

Romania (2nd)

Greece (2nd)

Who could Liverpool play?

The Premier League is not the only division with uncertainty surrounding it.

Plenty of qualifications spots are yet to be determined.

However, as things stand across Europe, these would be the teams in the third qualifying round, with five teams going through.

Ajax

Nice

Dynamo Kiev

Zenit St Petersburg

Club Brugge

Slavia Prague

İstanbul Başakşehir

Young Boys

Steaua București

PAOK (though their league’s playoffs have not started, with Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, Panionois also in contention)

In terms of those who would join Liverpool in the fourth qualifying round:

Sevilla

Napoli

Hoffenheim

Sporting Lisbon

So would Liverpool be seeded or unseeded?

This is where it becomes complicated.

It all depends who would be in the draw with them, as the five seeded sides possess the five highest coefficients.

Of the sides who enter at the fourth qualifying round as things stand, Sevilla and Napoli possess a higher one than Liverpool.

The worry comes from who progresses from the previous round.

Ajax, Zenit, and Dynamo Kiev all possess a higher coefficient; if they were to progress into the fourth qualifying round, Liverpool would be unseeded.

That would see them with the prospect of meeting one of the five aforementioned clubs over two legs – a tricky proposition.

However, if the Reds were seeded, then the potential for an easier tie – against Slavia Prague or İstanbul Başakşehir – becomes a possibility, though Hoffenheim and Sporting would also lurk.

(Image: 2016 Getty Images)

Anything else we should know?

Anything, and everything, can change.

For example, Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund are currently vying for third and fourth in the Bundesliga.

If Hoffenheim relegated Klopp’s former side to fourth, they would become one of the sides who join the fourth round qualifier.

The German side possess a higher coefficient than the Reds, meaning the chances of Liverpool being unseeded will be increased.

To guess and second-guess now is fun, but futile.

This, however, gives a little clue into how there should be a bit of annoyance at City’s goal-grabbing ways on Saturday – and why Liverpool must respond over the next three games.

Finishing in the top four will define Liverpool’s season. Not finishing third could go some way to defining their next one.