Liverpool have found out the next step on their Europa League journey, with two games against Atalanta now on the calendar for next month.
Should the Reds get the better of the Italian side, they’ll then face either Benfica or Marseille in the semi-final. Beyond that, one of four teams will await in the final.
As things stand, the final is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 22nd at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Now, there has been some suggestions that UEFA were having concerns that should Liverpool make the final, the Irish capital may prove a little too small to act as a venue.
But according to The Independent’s Reading The Game newsletter yesterday, there’s very little chance of Dublin giving itself up as the host city.
According to the newsletter, the request for a change of venue would have to come from the hosts themselves. That reportedly ‘doesn’t look likely.’ In fact, the possibility of Dublin giving its status up is said to be a ‘non-starter.’
There is some weariness cited over the game being played at the 52,000-seater Aviva, rather than the bigger, 80,000-seat Croke Park stadium. However, with Croke Park having a permanent standing section, this would reportedly need ‘significant work’ to get up to scratch for UEFA. The rugby stadium is said to be already slated as being used for a ‘mega fan zone’ for the final instead.
Dublin not going anywhere
This is good news for Liverpool. Of course, there are no guarantees at all that the Reds will even be in the final at all.
Atalanta pose a significant threat, as will either Benfica or Marseille. Still, there’s a reason Liverpool are the heavy favourites to win the trophy.
In their current form and with players coming back from injury, it’s hard to see any of those three teams stopping the Reds. It can happen, but over two legs you’d always back Liverpool to have enough.
The organisers probably see things the same way, too. As a result, we’d wager that bars, hotels and restaurants are all circling May 22nd and expecting the town to be painted red.
If that eventually doesn’t happen, then it’ll be problem solved. Although we’d still suggest that the likes of Marseille in particular would bring an especially lively crowd with them.
Nevertheless, with such a big Liverpool supporting population, it wouldn’t be anything like if the Reds get there.
With the Premier League season finishing on May 19th, there is the potential that a final would be Jurgen Klopp’s last game as Liverpool manager. Dublin would be one heck of a place for that to happen.
Should the Reds get to the FA Cup final too, they’ll have to contend with two finals in four days, with the Wembley showpiece currently slated for May 25th. A logistical nightmare, but it’s green light ahead on Dublin whatever happens.