Why Champions League Berth Is a Must for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers watched his Liverpool side create chances but fail to score against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup semi-final on Tuesday, a recurring theme throughout the season that has ultimately cost the Reds a shot at a first domestic cup for the boss.

While Liverpool remain in the FA Cup and Europa League, until (or unless) they reach the latter stages of those competitions, they must remain a secondary concern to putting in consistent displays and winning matches in the Premier League.

With rivals improving and spending and Champions League participation money set to go up yet again next season, it is imperative Liverpool secure a top-four finish in the league, both for their future prospects and for Rodgers' short-term planning and security.

Silverware Chances

The FA Cup's ridiculous nature in the fourth round leaves Liverpool with both an opportunity and a bit of a dilemma. Providing they get past Bolton in a replay, Crystal Palace await—probably now one of the favourites after Southampton, Manchester City, Chelsea and others all exited.

Liverpool have to be in with a shout of winning it, but there's still such a long way to go—and they haven't shown great ability to beat lesser sides without a full-strength team in place—that it's almost not worth thinking about just yet.

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The same goes for the Europa League; Liverpool have a whopping eight matches to get through before they can reach the final. Given an overall lack of consistency this season, it's not yet realistic to expect enough wins to get that far, at least until the competition reaches the last-eight stage and if Liverpool are still involved.

So, in the more than likely, if not outright impossible, absence of trophies this year, Liverpool have to lift the Arsene Wenger Cup instead: secure a top-four berth at all costs.

Proof of Ability

Moving from eighth to fourth is not out of reach for Liverpool. West Ham United can be bypassed with a win at Anfield this weekend—but they will have to start finding the back of the net more regularly to do so. The return of Daniel Sturridge will help, but that cannot be relied upon due to his injury problems.

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However, Liverpool are on a good run, not losing in 90 minutes since at Old Trafford in mid-December, and they went toe-to-toe with Chelsea over two legs, looking the better team at times and never looking overwhelmed at any point until late in extra time, when there was disappointingly little response to going behind.

That shows they are able to compete against the top sides, but wins are all-important now—no matter the opposition. The points-per-game rate must increase, and with big games coming up, Liverpool need to take points off rivals, as well as win games to boost their own tally.

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Liverpool will assess the fitness of Mamadou Sakho ahead of the game against West Ham after he suffered a back injury yesterday. [Echo]

— LiverpoolFC News (@LFCTransferNRS) January 28, 2015"

Reliance

There's little doubt Rodgers and Liverpool have left too much to chance in certain areas this season, notably in attack.

They have been too reliant on Daniel Sturridge and have suffered horribly while he has been out—because there has been no natural alternative to turn to. They shouldn't be making that mistake again over the second half of the season and, to an extent, are not as much with Raheem Sterling doing well in attack. However, no reinforcements have arrived.

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There continues to be a reliance on playing Steven Gerrard, as well as on Sterling to create and score goals.

These are all issues Brendan Rodgers has to find the answers for in the last three-and-a-half months of the season to ensure that Champions League qualification for next season happens.

Failure to do so won't automatically mean he's out of a job, just as we discussed winning a cup wouldn't automatically mean he is safe, but there's little doubt that it will be a huge consideration, both in terms of what the team can spend in summer, who Rodgers is allowed to target and as to what level and length of time the first team is entrusted to him.

Forget the cups for now, it's four games of immense importance for Liverpool's league season that matter: West Ham, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton. Top-four rivals and a derby that could shape the remainder of the campaign, for better or worse.

Follow @karlmatchett