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Liverpool's defeat at Hull brings a top four finish ever closer for Manchester City.

The Blues have recovered from a dip in results to climb back to second in the table, and qualification for next season's Champions League could be sealed as soon as this weekend.

With City holding a nine points advantage and a significantly better goal difference than Liverpool and Spurs, they are in firm control of their own fate.

Here's a look at the current situation.

What does City's run-in look like?

In order, the Blues play Spurs (a), QPR (h), Swansea (a), and Southampton (h). Of those, Spurs is probably the most difficult of those but it is a pretty decent set of games. Tottenham's form has dipped lately, and Mauricio Pochettino would not mind missing out on the Europa League. QPR and Swansea are both winnable games and a lot will be decided before the final day.

So how many points do they need?

Mathematically, City need four points from their final four games to guarantee a Champions League spot.

Realistically, goal difference takes a point off that target for a start with City's comfortably better than their rivals. So they could be all but confirmed in the top four if Liverpool do not beat QPR, while victory at Spurs will do the same.

What about the teams around them?

Even if City lose their last four games, they could still qualify if teams below them slip up.

Liverpool's current league form reads: WLLWDL. Rodgers' team face QPR and Palace at home and face difficult away trips to Chelsea and Stoke, making the chances of them taking 12 points unlikely.

Spurs have not fared much better. Their league form is: LWDLWD. They face City at home, Stoke away, Hull at home and Everton away.

There's also other top four teams to consider. Arsenal and United are behind City, so if the Blues can match their results that is another way they can ensure they qualify.

Who could City face next season?

UEFA have introduced a new rule for the group stages which means the top eight seeds will be made up of league champions.

If City make the draw they could be drawn against any but the English champions, which is looking like it will be Chelsea. As things stand, these are the sides that are topping their divisions.

Spain:Barcelona lead Real Madrid by two points with four games to go.

Germany:Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga.

Italy:Juventus lead Lazio by fourteen points with five games to go.

Portugal:Benfica lead Porto by three points with four games to go.

France:PSG lead Lyon by three points with four games to go.

Russia:Zenit lead Krasnodar by eight points with five games to go.

Netherlands:PSV have won the Dutch league.

If Barcelona, Real Madrid or Juventus win the Champions League but DO NOT win their domestic league, they will be included in the top eight seeds at the expense of PSV.

See the best pictures from City's games with Barcelona this season.