Good afternoon! Nine months of thrilling Premier League action has come down to today, and it is the top-four race which takes centre stage on this final day. The champions have been crowned, relegation has been confirmed - as Boro fans know all too well - but there are still three teams vying for two remaining Champions League places. Here we will be focusing on Liverpool at home to Middlesbrough, with Jurgen Klopp's side knowing that a win is all they need. It promises to be a nail-biting day of action, but before we take a closer look at the situation let's first check out the team news...

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Coutinho; Firmino, Sturridge

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Karius, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Lucas, Grujic, Origi

MIDDLESBROUGH STARTING XI: Guzan; Fabio, Chambers, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter, Forshaw, Downing; Bamford, Gestede

MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Dimi, Ayala, Bernardo, De Roon, Fischer, Stuani, Negredo

It is a big, big afternoon for Liverpool, then, and it will come as welcome news to the fans and manager Jurgen Klopp has he is able to welcome Roberto Firmino back into his starting XI this afternoon. The Brazilian missed Liverpool's 4-0 win over West Ham last time out with a muscular problem and was a doubt heading into this game having been missing from training throughout the week, but he is deemed fit enough to start and replaces Divock Origi in the side.

That is the only personnel change from the win over West Ham, but it will be interesting to see whether Klopp sticks with the same diamond formation which worked so well against the Hammers. If he does do that then Firmino is likely to lead the line alongside Sturridge, who keeps his place in the side for what is only his seventh league start of the season. The England international opened the scoring against the Hammers and will be desperate to get on the scoresheet again in what could well prove to be his final game for the club.

Coutinho in particular thrived in a slightly deeper position during that West Ham match, which is perhaps the main argument for sticking with it. The Brazilian netted twice and created another at the London Stadium and now has six goals and two assists in his last eight appearances for Liverpool - back to his best after a minor slump in form following his return from injury. Like Sturridge, Coutinho has been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer, but the Reds will know that they can ill-afford to lose him and he is likely to be key to unlocking this Boro defence today.

Adam Lallana will also be hoping to end his best season at the club on a high note having seen his form tail off since the turn of the year. The England man has not scored or assisted a single goal in 13 Premier League appearances in 2017 so far despite having scored seven and created seven more before the turn of the year. He has spent a sizeable chunk of that period out with an injury, though, and if he can rediscover something approaching his 2016 form today then he could prove key for the Reds.

As for Middlesbrough, Steve Agnew has made a couple of changes for his side's last match in the top flight for at least another year, with the most notable of those coming up front where Alvaro Negredo starts on the bench. The Spaniard has been Boro's top scorer this season and could well look for a move away this summer rather than settling for Championship football, but any potential farewell to the Boro fans will have to come off the bench as he is replaced by Rudy Gestede.

The inclusion of Gestede is a suggestion that Boro may look to attack Liverpool via the aerial route today, and Patrick Bamford will be looking to pick up on any knockdowns from his big strike partner up against Lovren and Matip. Bamford was on the scoresheet during the defeat to Southampton last time out and also got a goal on Middlesbrough last visit to Anfield when he scored in the last minute of extra time to force a record-equalling penalty shootout in the League Cup third round a few years ago.

The other Middlesbrough chance comes in midfield as Leadbitter returns in place of De Roon, who drops to the bench alongside the likes of Fischer and Stuani. There is no place in the squad for the exciting but unreliable Traore, but Stewart Downing does return to his former club in what may be his final game for Boro should he decide to leave in the summer. Clayton and Forshaw both keep their places in the middle of the park.

Boro are also unchanged at the back, with the fit-again Ayala only making the bench against his former club this afternoon. Chambers will return to parent club Arsenal after today's game, and it may also be the last in a Boro shirt for Ben Gibson, who has admitted that his future at the club remains uncertain following an impressive campaign on an individual level. Fabio and Friend make up the defensive quartet, with Guzan still deputising in goal in place of the injured Valdes.

It is not a Middlesbrough team which will strike fear into the hearts of Liverpool, but there will still be that tension and pressure amongst the home players and fans during today's game. The equation for Jurgen Klopp's side is simple - victory over their relegated visitors will be enough for them to secure a top-four spot and a place in the Champions League for just the second time in the last eight years. Anything other than a win and Liverpool will be left hoping for a favour from Merseyside rivals Everton, who take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium today.

The Gunners begin the day in fifth place, just one point behind Liverpool and three off Manchester City. The Reds' first priority is, of course, to secure a top-four finish, but should Manchester City drop points away to Watford then Liverpool could still nick third place too, which would mean an automatic route into the Champions League group stages. Klopp's side are heavy favourites to keep up their end of the bargain at least, but that won't prevent fans from fearing the worst today.

Perhaps the main concern for Liverpool today stems from their well-publicised troubles against the so-called lesser teams in the league this season. The Reds are unbeaten in 12 games against the top seven this season, averaging an impressive 2.17 points per game in those outings, but against teams outside the top seven they have lost six times and average just 1.81 points per game. What's more, four of their six defeats this season have come at the hands of a team who started the day in the relegation zone, so Liverpool are in the bizarre scenario of perhaps preferring to play a top-seven rival than any already-relegated team today.

That said, every other stat points to a Liverpool win this afternoon and, even accounting for those regular dropped points against bottom-half teams, it would be a major surprise if they were to throw a top-four place away this afternoon. The Reds did slip out of the Champions League places with a run of just two wins in 12 matches across all competitions at the start of 2017, but they have since returned to form with seven wins and just one defeat from their last 11 games to put them on the brink.

Liverpool's defensive record has once again been criticised this season, and only Arsenal have conceded more in the top seven, but the Reds have kept clean sheets in their last three games and another shutout today would make it four on the bounce for the first time since February 2015. Looking a little further back Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in their last five Premier League outings, which is as many as they managed in their 19 prior to that.

However, it is Liverpool's home form which has threatened to let them down in these closing stages of the season, with the Reds having failed to win any of their last three outings at Anfield - all at the hands of lower-ranked opposition. Bournemouth and Southampton have both managed to come away with draws, while Crystal Palace inflicted only a second home league defeat of the season on Liverpool. Their last home victory came on April 1 in the Merseyside derby, and if they drop points again today it would be four games without a win at Anfield in the league for the first time since October 2012 - not to mention potentially fatal to their top-four hopes.

If only home form counted this season Liverpool would sit down in sixth place, with both of their league defeats in front of their own fans having come at the hands of teams in the bottom half of the table. However, they have already amassed 73 points overall this term, and no team has ever finished outside the Premier League's top four having recorded that total. That stat will change today with an Arsenal win or draw, but Liverpool must make sure that it is the Gunners who set the new mark.

Middlesbrough are arriving at Anfield looking to spoil the Liverpool top-four party and, while they make the journey as major underdogs, they will want to put up one last fight before they drop back down to the second tier of English football. It has, on the whole, been a rather miserable season for the Smoggies and while they can now finish no higher or lower than their current spot of 19th, Steve Agnew will be stressing the importance of giving the travelling fans something to shout about on their top-flight farewell.

The odds are certainly stacked against Boro, though, and they arrive on Merseyside in dreadful form too. They have won just one of their last 20 Premier League matches, losing 12 of those since a 3-0 triumph over Swansea City before Christmas. Their solitary success in that spell came against the only club below them in the table - Sunderland - and four of their five victories this season having come against teams alongside them in the bottom four.

The other victory was against Bournemouth, who have only recently risen clear of the mire and climbed into the top half of the table themselves. Boro have won fewer matches than any other team in the league this season, and their measly tally of five three-point hauls will also set a new unwanted club-record for fewest in a Premier League season. Even an unlikely victory today will not change that, with the previous mark standing at seven from the 2008-09 campaign.

Just one of those wins has come away from home, and that came in the second week of the season as Boro began their away campaign with victory at Sunderland. Since then they have gone 17 Premier League away games without a win - 18 in all competitions - losing 10 and drawing seven of those. That includes a run of three defeats in a row heading into this match, and another loss today would see them fall to four away losses on the bounce for the first time since December 2013, when they were in the Championship.

Middlesbrough have picked up just one point from the last 21 on offer away from home in the Premier League, and throughout the season they have managed to amass only 10 points on their travels - one of the worst totals in the league. Indeed, only Burnley and Hull have won fewer points away from home despite Boro having conceded just 27 goals on their travels - fewer than fifth-placed Arsenal.

It is sticking the ball in the back of the net at the other end which has been the biggest problem for Boro - both in the league overall and away from home. They are the division's lowest scorers with just 27 goals from their 37 outings, and it is no surprise that they have also attempted the fewest shots (342) and shots on target (97) in the Premier League this season. They could become the first team since Stoke in 2011-12 to have fewer than 100 shots on target in a Premier League campaign.

The goalscoring issue has been a particular problem away from home, where Boro have failed to find the back of the net in seven of their eight away league games since the turn of the year. Their only two Premier League away goals in 2017 came in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Hull City, while throughout the entire campaign they have failed to score in 11 of their 17 league away games.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Anfield, which means that it is time for a prediction! This is a match which Liverpool really should win, but there will be plenty of nerves in the stands and the hosts will want an early goal to calm themselves down. Things may get tense if they are forced to wait for the breakthrough, but Liverpool should have enough to get the job done today - I'm going for a 3-0 home win!

As if Middlesbrough's task did not look difficult enough just due to the current situations of the two clubs, their historical record at Anfield is dreadful too. They have failed to win in their last 21 league visits to the stadium, losing 15 of those and drawing six - including an ongoing run of four Premier League losses in a row in which they have conceded at least two goals in each. Liverpool are only on a longer current unbeaten home league run against three clubs - Stoke (32), Nottingham Forest (23) and Notts County (22).

Indeed, Boro (14) are one of only three teams to have visited Anfield 10 or more times in the Premier League and never come away with a win - alongside Sunderland (16) and Bolton (13). The Smoggies' last win on this ground came way back in March 1976, but they did hold Liverpool to a draw here on their last visit as a League Cup third round tie in 2014 went all the way to a memorable penalty shootout which eventually ended in a record-equalling 14-13 win for Liverpool.

Middlesbrough most recent visit here in the Premier League came in August 2009 when Liverpool needed an Emanuel Pogatetz own goal and Steven Gerrard strike in the dying stages to turn a 1-0 defeat into a 2-1 victory after Mido had opened the scoring for Boro. The reverse fixture at the Riverside this season ended in a 3-0 win for Liverpool, meanwhile, with Lallana scoring either side of an Origi strike back in December.

Right, the players are on their way out and we're almost ready to go here. Before we start, though, allow me to point you in the direction of Sports Mole's end of season awards. You can vote for your choices by clicking here.

KICKOFF! And we're off! Liverpool, in their brand new home kit, get us underway for this must-win match.

SHOT! Liverpool have a shot after just 21 seconds as they look to make a quick start to the game - Firmino let's fly but it is relatively comfortable for Guzan.

UPDATE: There has already been a goal on the final day, but it is not one of much interest to Liverpool fans - Junior Stanislas has opened the scoring for Bournemouth against Leicester.

UPDATE: Limited early action here at Anfield but there has been plenty elsewhere, including a goal for Manchester City against Watford through Kompany. Liverpool can only finish fourth if City win that one. Elsewhere, Sunderland have taken a shock lead against champions Chelsea through Manquillo.

CHANCE! Early chance for Liverpool as Milner's cross from the left finds its way to Clyne, but he snatches at his effort and it ends up a few yards wide of the target.

UPDATE: The ball is now very much in Liverpool's court - Arsenal have just taken the lead against Everton through Hector Bellerin, which means that as things stand the Reds are finishing fifth in the table. Still a long way to go here at Anfield, though.

UPDATE: The ball is now very much in Liverpool's court - Arsenal have just taken the lead against Everton through Hector Bellerin, which means that as things stand the Reds are finishing fifth in the table. Still a long way to go here at Anfield, though.

Liverpool have started this match brightly and have taken control of the game quickly. They don't need to rush anything just yet, but the fans will be aware of that goal at Arsenal and that will only crank up the tension.

Middlesbrough have settled into a rhythm which many would have expected them too, sitting deep and making things difficult for Liverpool to break through.

UPDATE: Better news for Liverpool as Laurent Koscielny has been sent off for Arsenal after just 14 minutes! Not only does that hinder Arsenal's top-four chances, but that will also see him miss the FA Cup final.

Almost a chance for Liverpool as the ball drops to Wijnaldum inside the area, but he doesn't have much space to work with and his shot is blocked.

Here is how things stand at the top of the table following that early flurry of goals...

Boro win a free kick in a decent position and Downing is standing over it, but he fires his effort straight into the wall. Still nothing for Mignolet to do so far.

Middlesbrough are blocking everything at the moment! Once again the ball falls to a red shirt in the area, but Firmino sees his shot effort before Wijnaldum also thumps his secondary strike into a Middlesbrough defender. No way through.

SHOT! Can finally does get a shot all the way through as he skips into a bit of space just outside the area, but his strike flies a couple of yards over the crossbar.

PENALTY SHOUT! Big, big moment in this top-four race! Bamford steals in behind Lovren inside the area and goes down under the challenge of the Liverpool man, but Martin Atkinson waves the penalty claims away. That could well have been a Boro lead and a Lovren red card had Atkinson given that!

SAVE! Coutinho is the latest to try his luck from outside the area, but once again Guzan is there to make a fairly routine save.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Boro at the other end as Gestede rises highest in the box to flick a header towards goal, but it bounces a few yards wide of the far post.

That penalty call is one that certainly could have been given. It was clumsy from Lovren and, while there wasn't a huge amount of contact, there was enough to certainly as the question.

UPDATE: There has been another goal at Vicarage Road, where Sergio Aguero has doubled Manchester City's lead. They look to be nailed on for third place now, so it is up to Liverpool to change this picture...

UPDATE: Ok, now it really is all down to Liverpool. Ten-man Arsenal have doubled their lead at home to Everton, and it is Alexis Sanchez who has got the goal.

Coutinho tries to bend a trademark effort into the bottom far corner, but he can't trouble Guzan. There is a tense atmosphere inside Anfield now due to events elsewhere!

CHANCE! Liverpool are still asking questions here and this is one of their better chances so far. Sturridge collects the ball to feet inside the area and creates space to shoot, but his effort is a couple of yards wide.

Liverpool need to step things up here, and Klopp is acting as part manager part cheerleader on the touchlines as he tries to get the nervous fans involved. The hosts just need that first goal and then they will be able to relax a little.

SAVE! The hosts have been limited to shots from outside the box for the most part this afternoon. Wijnaldum drives forward with the ball at his feet before giving it out to Lallana, but the attack fizzles out and Lallana's subsequent shot is once again easy for Guzan.

SAVE! Another shot from range, another comfortable stop for Guzan. This time it is Firmino who sends a low strike into the arms of the Boro keeper.

UPDATE: Aguero has scored his second and Man City's third of the first half against Watford as they look home and dry in third place.

Gestede, Friend and Aguero all combine to break into the Liverpool box, but the attack breaks down when Lovren puts a rather panicky clearance over his own crossbar.

UPDATE: Watford not exactly putting up a fight in Walter Mazzarri's final day. They now trail Man City 4-0, with Fernandinho the latest to get in on the act.

Middlesbrough have made one or two breaks into the box in this match. Bamford is the latest to do so as he spins away from his man and cuts inside along the byline, but he is eventually stopped in his tracks by Lovren.

The fourth official indicates just one added minute, but that is all Liverpool need as Georginio Wijnaldum finally gives them the breakthrough! The midfielder starts the move by giving the ball to Clyne, whose pass in to Firmino is flicked round the corner for Wijnaldum. The Dutchman has continued his run and collects the ball in the area before blasting his finish past Guzan at the near post. No stopping that one!

Well, that changes things for Liverpool! That goal right on the stroke of half time from Wijnaldum will ease the tension around Anfield and should put them on course for the top four. There is little room for error with Arsenal and Man City both in front, though. This is how things stand...

Before we go any further, allow me to once again point you in the direction of our Sports Mole Reader Awards, where you have the chance to vote for your player of the season, goal of the season and much more. You can vote during half time by clicking here.

That first half was a very, very nervous one for Liverpool, who were limited to long-range strikes for the most part as they struggled to break down Middlesbrough. Wijnaldum has got the all-important goal as things stand, though, collecting Firmino's flick before slamming his finish past Guzan at the near post.

There have been chances for the likes of Clyne, Sturridge and Can, but Wijnaldum's was the first really clear opening Liverpool created. They were clearly panicking at times, shooting from range and giving Guzan easy saves to make, while at the other end they got away with one a little when Lovren brought down Bamford inside the box. Martin Atkinson waved away claims for a penalty, and it would have also had to be a red card for Lovren too.

KICKOFF: Middlesbrough get us back underway for the second half here at Anfield - they are just 45 minutes away from a return to the Champions League as things stand!

It has been a slow start to the second half due to a head injury suffered by Can following a clash with Gestede. That suits Liverpool now a lot more than it did just before half time, though.

The hosts have a free kick in a good position here as Clayton rushes out and trips Sturridge around 25 yards from goal. Coutinho is lining this one up, with Sturridge and Milner also in contention...

There is the second Liverpool goal and the cushion that puts them on the brink of Champions League qualification! Coutinho lines up the free kick and curls it towards the goalkeeper's side, tucking it right into the bottom corner. Guzan appeared to see it very late, but the Boro keeper still should have done a lot better. Anfield feels like a different place now!

CHANCE! Almost a third for Liverpool, who will fancy their chances of getting a few more now. Firmino takes the ball down on his chest inside the penalty area before going for a volley, but Friend rushes out to make the block. Clyne fires the second effort well off target.

Game over, and top-four race over too. Liverpool surely put it beyond all doubt as Lallana ends his goal drought at the end of a quick break from the hosts. A Middlesbrough corner gives the Reds a chance to counter and there are plenty of players pouring forward in support. It eventually falls to Lallana, who keeps his composure to roll a finish into the bottom corner.

CHANCE! Big chance for Middlesbrough to pull a goal back immediately as Forshaw breaks into the box, but with only Mignolet to beat he puts his finish narrowly wide via a touch from the keeper.

CHANCE! Non-stop action at the moment here as now Liverpool break at the other end, with Coutinho seeing a low strike tipped just wide by Guzan.

UPDATE: It may not matter now, but Everton have pulled a goal back at the Emirates through Romelu Lukaku. Man City, meanwhile, have taken a 5-0 lead against Watford through Gabriel Jesus.

Less than half an hour remaining in this one now, and Liverpool fans can start their party now if they like. There doesn't appear to be any way they will throw this one away.

CHANCE! Chance for Liverpool to grab a fourth as Coutinho bursts forward before playing the ball through for Firmino, whose first touch lets him down. That means he has to poke it towards Wijnaldum rather than going for goal himself, and that gives the defence the chance to clear their lines.

Nice touch from the Liverpool fans as Xabi Alonso's name rings around the stadium following his retirement yesterday.

CHANCE! Liverpool look like scoring every time they come forward now. Firmino exchanges passes with Lallana on his way to the byline before standing a cross into the middle for Wijnaldum. The Dutchman never looks set for his attempted volley, though, and sure enough to slices his effort into the arms of the keeper.

This one feels very much like an end-of-season fixture now that Liverpool have wrapped the game up. It is a lot more comfortable now than it was just before half time!

Anfield rises as one to applaud the Middlesbrough fans, who are chanting 'Justice for the 96'. Lovely touch from the away supporters.

Almost a chance for Boro as Bamford attacks the ball in the area, but it appears to flick off the head of Milner and is prevented from going behind by Mignolet.

SHOT! Sturridge has been relatively quiet today, but he picks the ball up and moves it onto his left foot here before curling a long-range effort wide of the target.

MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Double change for Boro here as Alvaro Negredo and Daniel Ayala replace Gestede and Fabio.

SAVE! Another save for Guzan to make, this time from Can as he breaks into the box but sees his low effort kept out.

Liverpool have settled down a little because it looked as though they would run up a cricket score after they added two within the opening 11 minutes of this second half.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Lucas Leiva will get a 10-minute cameo here - perhaps his last ever appearance in a Liverpool shirt. He replaces Firmino.

CHANCE! Chance for Middlesbrough to grab a consolation goal as Forshaw steals into the box, but he takes on a difficult volley first time and fires it wide. That was a clear opening for the visitors - they haven't had a lot of them today!

LIVERPOOL SUB: Another change for the home side as Divock Origi comes on in place of Sturridge.

The Liverpool fans are urging Lucas to shoot every time he gets the ball, no matter where that is. He almost settles for an assist here as he picks Can out inside the box, but the German cannot bring it under his spell.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Lucas gets the armband for the closing stages as Milner is replaced by Alberto Moreno.

A minor flare-up between Moreno and Chambers provides an unexpectedly feisty end to this game, but after the two go head to head it quickly fizzles out into nothing.

There will be two added minutes at the end of this match.

It was tense for long spells of that first half, but in the end it was all rather easy for Liverpool as they book their place in the Champions League for just the second time in the last eight years. Wijnaldum's goal right on the stroke of half time really eased the pressure on their shoulders, and second-half strikes from Coutinho and Lallana sealed their place in the top four ahead of Arsenal in Jurgen Klopp's first full season at the helm.

Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the final day as Liverpool hang on to fourth place with a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Anfield. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!