Comment: Could Liverpool give us another lifeline?

We narrowly lost the first game under Stuart Pearce at Spurs but since then have alternated draws at Charlton, Fulham and Blackburn with home wins over Liverpool, Birmingham and Portsmouth.

It could have been even better for Pearce and City too, as we should have beaten Charlton and Blackburn and, some might say, we conceded a dubious equaliser at Fulham.

It certainly makes a refreshing change to go into a game expecting to get a convincing victory and then seeing the team do just that, as what happened against Portsmouth on Saturday.

We might be struggling to get the 7th-placed finish that would see us qualify for Europe (although that is only down to United reaching the Cup final) but the City team under Pearce has made me believe we can do it.

Spurs, Middlesbrough and Villa are also in contention, and we play both Villa and Boro in our last two games. Next week Spurs also visit Boro so it makes for an interesting finale to the season.

I’m optimistic but I know it’ll take an extremely favourable series of results to see us get it. What’s for sure is that we need at least another four points before we can worry about the others.

But what really rankles is that we should really have it in the bag by now. Those recent away draws aside, there have been plenty of occasions this season when we have settled for a point when a win has been there for the taking.

However, could we get a second lifeline? What happens if Liverpool win the Champions League?

No-one (in the media) seems to have touched on this yet, but don’t Liverpool qualify for next season’s Champions League if they win it? And if they finish between 5th and 7th does that mean that we’ll have 5 Champions League spots and even the 8th-placed Premiership club will get into the UEFA Cup?

Perhaps I’m getting a bit desperate, but I’m sure all will be confirmed in due course.

I don’t know why I’m worrying, to be honest. We’re bound to finish one place out whatever it is!