England will be forced to make a tricky choice between their fourth placed finisher and Liverpool, provided Rafael Benitez’s team win this year’s Champions League but fail to qualify for next season’s competition via their league position.

Liverpool currently lie fifth in the Premier League, four points behind Merseyside rivals Everton, having played a game more.

The prospect of them finishing outside the top four allied to their run in this year’s competition has raised the prospect of the English FA being forced to decide which team qualifies for next season’s Champions League.

Earlier today, the FA requested an additional place be made available for Liverpool if they won this season’s competition, but UEFA have informed them that only four places will be offered to English clubs.

“It’s not possible to have more than four places,” a spokesman for European body UEFA said .

Earlier today, Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson told Monday’s Daily Express: “There is no way England can have more than four teams so we would refer it to the English FA to make the decision if it arises.

“But normally I would say that it’s more important if you are qualified through your national league position than if you have won the competition.”

Spain was faced with the same dilemma five years ago and opted to allow European Cup holders Real Madrid, who had finished fifth in Primera Liga, to defend their title and entered fourth-placed Real Zaragoza in the UEFA Cup.