Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that while his team still needs to win football matches before they can be called champions, he is happy to be back and has missed the game a lot during the COVID-19 induced break, where the world came to a standstill.
The Premier League is set to resume on June 17, subject to government approval after it was stopped in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Liverpool leads the Premier League table by 25 points with nine games remaining as they chase their first title in 30 years.
“I have missed it so much it”s unbelievable,” Klopp told the BBC.
“I know it”s not the most important thing in life but it is my passion. I hope the people are looking forward to it because we are.”
‘Want to win as many games as possible’
Talking about Liverpool winning the league, he said: “It”s nice to think about it but we are not champions yet and we know that. “
Liverpool need to win matches to be Champions
Liverpool could clinch the title with victory in their first game after resumption of league, if Manchester City lose to Arsenal in one of two games scheduled to take place on 17 June, before the first full round of matches the following weekend.
Klopp said there was still “a lot of work to do” and Liverpool would “want to win as many games as possible”.
“We know we are close but close is not there. There are 27 points left for us and we will try everything to take them all.
“We are still not champions. We have to play football games and we have to win them.
“We don”t want to stop winning after two games or whatever it is. I don”t see results written in the stars; we have to work really hard.”
There will be a parade
All the remaining 92 English Premier League matches will be played behind closed doors.
Jurgen Klopp said, “If we become champions, whatever celebrations are possible we will do as a team internally and with all our supporters in the moment we are allowed to do so again.”
“I can promise that if it happens, there will be a parade as well. Whenever. Who cares! We only need one day when everybody is able to come and then we will do that.” Klopp said.
No advantage at home with crowds
Several of Liverpool’s games could be held at a neutral venue after Mark Roberts, the national lead for football policing, said up to six matches could be moved at the request of local police forces.
Those fixtures include the Merseyside derby as well as Manchester City v Liverpool.
Klopp said Liverpool “would love” to play their home games at Anfield but feels there is no advantage when crowds are absent, as shown by results since the Bundesliga resumed.
“We will not have the help from the crowd but no team will have that so where is the advantage? Whoever we play it is the same situation which is why I’m not too worried about it,” said Jurgen Klopp.
“From the first match, we all play for absolutely everything.”
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