Kai Havertz’s late, late winner secured Arsenal a 1-0 win over Sporting CP, and the result has boosted Everton’s and Liverpool’s Champions League hopes
21:58, 07 Apr 2026Updated 22:23, 07 Apr 2026
Arne Slot and David Moyes(Image: (Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
Everton and Liverpool’s hopes of securing Champions League football next season have been boosted following Arsenal’s win over Sporting CP. The Gunners won 1-0 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.
Martin Zubimendi thought he had opened the scoring for Mikel Arteta’s side, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review. However, in the first minute of stoppage time, Kai Havertz pounced to send the travelling Arsenal supporters wild.
And, as a result of the Gunners’ win, England has secured a top-two finish in the UEFA season coefficient rankings, which means that a fifth Champions League qualifying spot for the Premier League has been secured.
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Liverpool are the most immediate beneficiaries of this coefficient boost, as they currently occupy fifth place and would leapfrog into a guaranteed Champions League position rather than settling for the Europa League. While Everton are just three points behind their rivals, sitting eighth in the table, with the two sides set to face off at Hill Dickinson Stadium a week on Sunday.
Qualifying for the Champions League is paramount to Liverpool every season, and Slot admitted in February: “If we don’t have Champions League football, it has definitely not been an acceptable season.”
Before he continued: “It’s important to know what is ‘whatever else’ (that has happened) because if you talk about ‘whatever else’ we could come up with six or seven things. I’m not sure everyone is always aware of all these things.
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Arne Slot and Ibrahima Konate(Image: PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
“I think you’ve noticed I’m not standing here and coming out with all these excuses. But the maximum we can achieve right now is qualifying for the Champions League and that’s always what we aim for – to achieve the maximum possible at this moment in time.
“It wasn’t the maximum possible at the start of the season, but at this moment of time it is the maximum we can achieve.”
While Blues boss Moyes was keen not to get carried away with the idea of Champions League football at Hill Dickinson Stadium following his side’s recent win over Chelsea, he did not shy away from what being in Europe would mean to the club.
David Moyes acknowledges the fans after the Premier League win over Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The Scot said: “I’d love to say it was [a possibility] as I’m trying to be more positive than I would normally be, but for Everton to even be in the mix for Europe is unbelievable, whether it is Conference League or Champions League.
“We were sitting here last year just beginning to edge ourselves away from relegation and still had lots of money to pay off, new ownership and 10 or 12 players out of contract – so for us to be in the position we are now is just great.
“I can imagine, if we could possibly do it, what it would do for the crowds here as Evertonians are desperate to get back amongst it.”
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