Chelsea have dodged a nightmare scenario thanks to Liverpool's elimination from the Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp's men failed to join the Blues in the Champions League semi-finals, losing 3-1 on aggregate to reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid after drawing 0-0 in the second leg on Wednesday night.
The result means Chelsea will now face Real Madrid in the semi-finals and that the Blues will avoid a nightmare scenario, but that nightmare scenario was not that they would have had to face Liverpool.
Thomas Tuchel's men might even have been confident of beating Liverpool, but the problem that would have faced Chelsea is that they could have finished fourth in the Premier League and still missed out on Champions League qualification.
If Liverpool had won the Champions League and Arsenal won the Europa League this season while Chelsea finished fourth in the Premier League, that would have meant the Blues were instead given a Europa League place.
That would have been a disastrous scenario for Chelsea, but one that is no longer possible thanks to Liverpool's exit.
The Blues are the only English club that can with the Champions League, a feat that would guarantee them a place in the competition next season.
And Tuchel's men might just get the job done via the league anyway, currently fifth, just one point behind West Ham in fourth and two behind Leicester City in third.
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Chelsea will be desperate to get into next season's Champions League with financial rewards even more important given the financial impact felt by clubs due to coronavirus.
Tuchel's men will be looking to qualify via both the Champions League and the league, and the dates for the semi-final of the former are now set with the Blues to face Real Madrid away from home on April 28, and then home on May 4.
