This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
On June 19, 2020, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed relief that his team would have the chance to win the Premier League title on the field, rather than having it decided by a points-per-game basis.
The Reds held a commanding 22-point lead at the top of the table and were poised to seal the title with victories over Everton and Crystal Palace.
Had the Premier League not resumed, various proposals were discussed, including declaring the season null and void, which gained little support.
Klopp was relieved when that option was taken off the table, allowing Liverpool to pursue a historic title win.
"I became worried when people started talking about null and void the season," Klopp said in a pre-match videoconference. "I felt it physically because that would have been really, really, really hard."
With the season back on track, Klopp is eager to win the title on the pitch, even if no fans will be in the stadium to witness the historic moment.
"We don't expect to get it as a present, so we did not want it to happen on points-per-game (PPG)," Klopp added. "We were really happy when it was decided we could play again."
As Liverpool prepares to join the Premier League's Black Lives Matter campaign, Klopp's squad has been vocal about their support for the movement.
"If football is a role model for anything in life, it is for equality and respect for all, regardless of color or background," Klopp said.
