It is hard to believe it is May already. There are only 5 games left for Liverpool in the 2022-23 Premier League season. They have 2 more this week. For the second week in a row, the Reds have a midweek game. 

Last week was an amazing week for Liverpool. In my column last week, I talked about how difficult it would be for the Reds to take 6 points. I even went so far as to say as I didn't think they could pull it off. In this case, I am very happy to be wrong.

Yesterday's wild stoppage-time win against Tottenham and Wednesday's less wild but still great win at West Ham got the Reds all 6 points after all. They are now in 5th place in the table, which as we know is the Europa League qualification spot. They are officially back in the conversation for European football.

Here are the 3 Points for the Week ahead for Liverpool:

Point 1 - Close the Gap

Now that Liverpool have gotten themselves back into a European spot, they can concentrate on rising even higher. Going into this week, there is a 7-point gap between the Reds in 5th and Manchester United in 4th. Let's face it, we would all much rather be in the Champions League. 

This season is nearly over. Everyone knows it's been a massively disappointing one but, if they can do the unlikely and make it into the top 4, it will make us all feel a lot better. If the Reds are going to make the Champions League, they are going to have to win all 5 games left.

Two games, 6 more points on the table, and winning both will do a lot to close the gap between Liverpool and Manchester United. United have a game in hand, so the gap could potentially get wider, the only thing Liverpool can control are their games. So they should go ahead and win both of them again this week.

Point 2 - Send the Cottagers Home with 0 Points

First game up this week is against Fulham on Wednesday night. Kick-off is from Anfield at 20:00 BST and you won't want to miss a minute of it. Fulham are in 10th place at the moment, and some might say that they have overachieved in the League this season. 

The Reds haven't seen Fulham since the first day of the Premier League season in August. Fulham managed a 2-2 draw at their house, Craven Cottage on the banks of the River Thames in West London.

Fulham have lost their mojo a bit since their meltdown in the FA Cup in March. They lost to United on March 19th but they also lost their minds. The Cottagers ended up with 3 red cards in the match, most notoriously, the team's striker Aleksander Mitrovic. Mitrovic shoved the referee during the match, which is a big no-no.

Mitrovic received an 8-game suspension and Fulham have been pretty inconsistent without him. He won't be eligible to play Wednesday night and Liverpool should take advantage of his absence. They can also take advantage of a night game at Anfield, which will be a great atmosphere.

Point 3 - Don't Underestimate the Bees

Liverpool's second match this week could be a tricky one. They play another Premier League overachiever in Brentford but, unlike Fulham, have been calm, cool and collected all season. For such a small club, Brentford being in 9th place with 50 points in the Premier League is impressive.

A lot of credit is rightly given to their manager, Thomas Frank. Frank has his team prepared week after week to compete at a high level. Brentford, also known as the Bees, will not be phased by Liverpool or Anfield. Frank and Jürgen Klopp know each other well, so Klopp knows he can't take the Bees lightly. The only question is will his players?

The Bees stung the Reds in London in the first match of 2023. Brentford won 3-1 on the 2nd of January. This is another one of those matches that I've been talking a lot about lately for Liverpool to make amends for losing a game they probably shouldn't have.

Liverpool have won 4 games in a row, and haven't lost in 6, they've been doing almost everything right for a while now. They are ripe for a trap game. Either one of the matches this week could trip the Reds up. If they understand the risks of playing Fulham and Brentford, Liverpool should be able to take all 6 points again. If they don't, they won't.