Premier League LIVE: Managers speaking before top flight return

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Goodbye for now

Let's end - for now - on that positive note.

Thanks for joining us to assess the fallout from Liverpool's first-leg defeat at PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Your messages on this topic have been great - we have published a cross section.

And you have also had your say on our three polls this morning:

Do you have faith in Slot?

Can Liverpool overturn the tie and progress?

Should Slot use more of Salah?

If you have not already, click on the links to take part in the polls.

And join us again soon as we bring you Premier League news conferences this afternoon.

Until then...

Is there a battle in Merseyside for Champions League?

Everton haven't played in Europe's elite competition since 1970. They haven't played any European football since 2017. But are they battling their biggest rivals Liverpool for that fifth spot in the Champions League?

Liverpool currently sit in that special fifth place and remain five and six points behind Aston Villa in fourth and Manchester United in third. But they are far from comfortable.

A point separates them and Chelsea in sixth, and another two keep Brentford and the Toffees in the race behind. And Liverpool still have to play all three of them.

There is no predicting who will pick up points where at this stage of the season but if the gap remains the same, Everton would draw level with their neighbours next weekend if they secure a victory in the Merseyside derby.

Race for fifth place in the Premier League

Dale Johnson

Football issues correspondent

The race for fifth place in the Premier League, currently held by Liverpool on 49 points, is exceptionally tight.

Just seven points separate Arne Slot's side from 13th-placed Bournemouth.

Chelsea (48) sit in sixth followed by Brentford (46), Everton (46), Fulham (44), Brighton (43), Sunderland (43), Newcastle (42) and Bournemouth (42).

If Aston Villa, who are fourth on 54 points, win the Europa League and finish outside the top four, the Premier League would have six teams in the Champions League.

The same logic applies to Liverpool, who face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.

If either win a European trophy and finish fifth, then sixth would qualify for the Champions League via the EPS place.

If both win European trophies and finish fifth and sixth, that would put seventh into the Champions League.

Nottingham Forest are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. They could emulate Tottenham by winning the competition and finishing in the bottom half of the table.

Just like last season, that would create a sixth team in the Champions League for the Premier League too.

What was said on social media?

PSG 2-0 Liverpool

Here's are some of the highlights from social media's response to last night's game:

Arne Slot's approach is coming under fire, with @AnfieIdFix, external noting how "for the past year Slot has moaned about how Premier League teams don't want to play football, and always references PSG as an example of a team which plays football "the right way" - now he has the chance to play PSG again and he comes out with a back 5, parks the bus and plays like Tony Pulis."

Mo Salah watching the final 15 minutes of the game from the bench didn't feel right to some fans. As @Sbzcomps, external writes, without consideration for recent form, "when you’re chasing a game and need a moment you at least give a player like Salah a cameo."

Opposition fans such as @MarkGoldbridge, external are taking the opportunity to enjoy themselves: "No bias but I genuinely think Liverpool should keep Slot next season. There's definitely a chance he can make them great again if they give him a few years."

Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant , externalsummarised Liverpool fans' despair: "This is a disaster. Slot, you won the league last year with a style of play and DNA of Liverpool that Klopp built. This team is now close to unrecognisable…"

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