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Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Liverpool vs Middlesbrough. Premier League.

AnfieldAttendance53,191.

Liverpool 3

  • G Wijnaldum (46th minute)
  • P Coutinho (51st minute)
  • A Lallana (56th minute)

Middlesbrough 0

    Sky Live: Liverpool v Middlesbrough: Reds need win in final game to secure top four

    Liverpool v Middlesbrough
    Image: Liverpool v Middlesbrough is live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 2pm on Sunday

    Liverpool go into their final game of the season knowing a win over Middlesbrough will secure a top-four finish. Watch live on Sky Sports 1.

    The Reds have their Champions League qualification in their own hands after beating West Ham last Sunday.

    Liverpool need to match or better Arsenal's result to finish in top four and can also overhaul Manchester City into third if they beat Middlesbrough and City fail to win at Watford.

    If Jurgen Klopp's men win it would be just the second time they'd have secured a top-four finish in the last eight seasons.

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    Meanwhile, already-relegated Middlesbrough are solely playing for pride after a miserable end to the season. However, they will take heart from the fact that four of Liverpool's five defeats this season have come against teams that were in the relegation zone.

    Team news

    Klopp is hopeful forward Roberto Firmino will be fit to return.

    The Brazil international missed last week's win at West Ham with a muscle injury and has not trained with the squad this week but Klopp is optimistic about him being available.

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    Liverpool's Roberto Firmino (left) celebrates a goal with Philippe Coutinho
    Image: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino (left) celebrates a goal with Philippe Coutinho

    With doubts over Firmino's fitness, the manager could continue with the successful midfield diamond and Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi up front.

    Middlesbrough head coach Steve Agnew will be without Gaston Ramirez and Victor Valdes because of injury, but is hopeful of welcoming back Daniel Ayala into the squad.

    Opta stats

    Liverpool are unbeaten against Middlesbrough in their last 21 league games at Anfield (W15 D6); only against Stoke (32), Nottingham Forest (23) and Notts County (22) are the Reds on a longer current unbeaten at home in the league.

    In fact, Middlesbrough are one of three teams to visit Anfield on 10-plus occasions in the Premier League without leaving with all three points (Sunderland - 16, Middlesbrough - 14 and Bolton - 13).

    The Reds have won each of their last four Premier League contests against Middlesbrough at Anfield, scoring two-plus goals on each occasion.

    Liverpool have won eight of their 10 Premier League final day games at Anfield (D2), scoring 27 goals.

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    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged his players to finish off a successful season by beating Middlesbrough on Sunday and qualifying for the Champions League

    In contrast, Boro have lost five of their last six top-flight away trips on the final day (D1), although they did record a final day victory on Merseyside in the 1999-00 season, beating Everton 2-0.

    Middlesbrough will finish the season with their fewest wins in a Premier League campaign (five so far this season, previous lowest was seven in 2008/09).

    All six of Liverpool's Premier League defeats this season have been against sides currently outside the top seven, with their two home defeats coming against 17th-placed Swansea and 13th-placed Crystal Palace.

    Adam Lallana hasn't scored or assisted a Premier League goal in 13 appearances in 2017 so far (1051 mins). Before January 1 this season, Lallana had seven goals and seven assists in 17 Premier League appearances (1205 mins).

    MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 19:  Adam Lallana of Liverpool reacts after missing a chance to score during the Premier League match between Manchester City a
    Image: Adam Lallana's form has dipped in recent weeks

    Middlesbrough have attempted the fewest shots in total (342) and shots on target (97) this season in the Premier League.

    The last side to attempt under 100 shots on target in a single Premier League season were Stoke City (94 in 38 games) back in 2011-12.

    Merson predicts

    I do expect Liverpool to win. Their form hasn't been great against the lesser teams, but they have to win. Surely they can't throw it away from here? On the first day of the season, if someone had said to them 'you're playing a team who is relegated, they can't win a game for toffee and you've got to beat them at home to make it into the Champions League', you would take that all day long.

    You would take Middlesbrough at home on the final day of the season to win to make it into the Champions League. They are one game away and I'd expect them to do it.

    PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (9/2 with Sky Bet)

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    Paul Merson selects his Fantasy Six-A-Side team ahead of Liverpool's clash with Middlesbrough on Super Sunday

    Betting

    Liverpool are the 1/6 odds-on favourites with Sky Bet, who put Middlesbrough up against odds of 22/1 while pricing the draw at 15/2. Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho are joint favourites to score first at 7/2 while Alvaro Negredo is seen as the visitors' main threat at 12/1 to break the deadlock. The Reds are 5/1 to miss out on a top-four finish, Boro are 3/1 to bounce back immediately from their relegation and return to the top flight next season.

    Liverpool v Middlesbrough is included in this weekend's Super 6 line-up, with £250,000 up for grabs again following jackpot wins in the last two rounds. Enter your predictions for free here.

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