Liverpool lead charge in dash for European cash

After the race for glory, the dash for cash. Three trophies stashed safely away in an Anfield cabinet that had been getting pretty dusty, Liverpool's compelling end of season charge continues this afternoon at Charlton Athletic with a burst for the jagged line that separates third from fourth and fifth in the Premiership. Leeds United and Ipswich Town are Liverpool's competitors.

Ultimately the difference between Liverpool finishing third and Leeds or Ipswich fourth could be one point in table terms. When it comes to money the difference will be measured in millions. Third place in the Premiership, of course, means a Champions' League role next season.

Whichever of the three triumphs, they will have to negotiate a qualifying round before entering the league stage, just as Leeds did last season, but what is on offer financially is vast and puts Liverpool's unique cup achievement this season in economic perspective.

Liverpool's season of 25 cup ties and three trophies generated a total of £15,162,150 sterling in gate receipts, television and prize money. Just reaching the Champions' League and not winning a match there ensures Liverpool £13,070,000.

Accountants who take no interest in glory will point out that Liverpool's 25 cup ties this season are worth £2 million more than one match at The Valley today. Moreover, should Liverpool qualify from the Champions' League first stage, the second guarantees them a minimum of an extra £10 million. It is not an exaggeration, therefore, to say today's match is worth at least £8 million to Liverpool.

Thus it did not sound like tired manager-speak yesterday when Gerard Houllier said that today's game: "Is everything now. I believe this is more important for the future of the club than the European final we have just won."

Leeds face Leicester City at Elland Road and will await news from south London eagerly. Realistically Leeds should beat Leicester, giving them 68 points, although Leicester won 3-1 at Filbert Street in October.

Liverpool begin on 66 points knowing victory at Charlton would render scores elsewhere irrelevant. But Charlton have lost only twice at home all season and a draw would leave Leeds able to leap into third. If Leeds draw or lose, as well as Liverpool, then Ipswich could cap a great season by winning at Derby County. Ipswich, like Leeds, start the day on 65 points but have an inferior goal difference of four on David O'Leary's team.

Houllier said yesterday he thinks the Premiership match will be harder than the helter-skelter affair in the UEFA Cup final in Germany but made no attempt to employ tiredness as a pre-emptive excuse should things go wrong. "We've banned that word from our vocabulary," Houllier said in Dortmund.

Meanwhile, two other grounds, Maine Road and Goodison Park, stage significant occasions for Chelsea and Sunderland. Niall Quinn will lead the line for Sunderland at Everton hoping that a Sunderland win would be matched by one from his previous club Manchester City over Chelsea. But Chelsea are two points above Sunderland and a victory or even a draw would mean Claudio Ranieri's team grab the last UEFA Cup spot.