What needs to happen for Liverpool to play historic '39th Premier League game'

Liverpool's season may not be over on Sunday - if an unprecedented Premier League outcome takes place.

The Reds, who sit in fifth place, take on Brentford at Anfield in their final game of the 2025/26 season.

A point will be enough for Arne Slot's side to secure Champions League football this season, given that sixth-placed Bournemouth go into Sunday three points behind them in the table.

The Cherries travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest, who are playing for nothing on the final day after securing their Premier League safety under Vitor Pereira.

Even if Liverpool lose and Bournemouth win, the Reds should theoretically be able to hold on to fifth place against ahead of Bournemouth given their superior goal difference.

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Liverpool enter the final day with a goal difference of +10, with Bournemouth six behind on +4.

But there is an unlikely scenario that could occur which would force a historic 39th Premier League fixture.

How Premier League play-off could take place

Bournemouth would have to beat Nottingham Forest by five goals, and Liverpool would need to lose by a single goal to Brentford, for the two teams to draw level on both goal difference and goals scored.

As per Premier League tiebreaker rules, the two teams would then be separated by their head-to-head record - except both have a win against each other this season.

The fourth and final tiebreaker is then away goals - except both teams scored two away goals in matches between the two sides this season.

Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2 at Anfield on the opening day of the season, before the Cherries won 3-2 at Dean Court in January.

Bournemouth beat Liverpool 3-2 earlier this season (Image: Getty)

That would create the scenario of a play-off needing to be played between the two sides, at a neutral venue, to decide who takes the final Champions League spot - something that has never happened before in the Premier League.

Bournemouth could yet qualify for the Champions League by finishing sixth, but would need Liverpool to overtake Aston Villa on the final day of the season.

Villa have earned an automatic qualification spot by winning the Europa League, so the qualification spot via league position filters down to the sixth-placed team - but only if Villa finish in fifth place.

With plenty of calculators no doubt at the ready, the final day of the Premier League season kicks off at 4pm on Sunday afternoon.