Whoever is in charge at Liverpool this summer is facing an early start to next season unless Aston Villa are overhauled this weekend.

With the final round of Premier League games to come on Sunday, the Anfield outfit stand two points adrift of the Midlanders in seventh place.

Having already been assured Europa League qualification by Everton’s failure to beat Stoke City last Saturday, Liverpool saw their outside hopes of a Champions League berth ended by defeat against Chelsea the following day.

And unless they win at Hull City and Villa fail to beat Blackburn Rovers at home, Benitez’s side will take the fourth Europa League place available to English clubs.

It would mean Liverpool entering the competition at the third qualifying round, with ties to be played on July 29 and August 5 ahead of the start of the Premier League campaign on August 14.

The first leg comes just 18 days after the World Cup finishes in South Africa – with the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard hopeful of appearing in the final.

Fulham, who finished seventh last year, began their Europa League campaign at the same stage this season and have played 18 games to reach next week’s final against Atletico Madrid.

It is actually possible two more English clubs could be in the Europa League next season, Fulham going through as holders if they win the trophy and England are on course for another berth through the Fair Play table which would almost certainly go to relegated Burnley.