Jurgen Klopp 'really happy' Liverpool can win Premier League title on the pitch

Ahead of Merseyside derby, Carlo Ancelotti calls on Everton to produce the 'perfect' game

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  Mohamed Salah with James Milner. Getty

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  Jurgen Klopp takes charge of the training session at Melwood. Getty

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  Mohamed Salah and James Milner enjoy the training session. Getty

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  Virgil van Dijk working out ahead of the Mersey derby. Getty

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  Mohamed Salah looks ready for a return to action. Getty

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  Roberto Firmino with Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah in the training session. Getty

Jurgen Klopp has admitted he was "worried" that the coronavirus lockdown would end Liverpool's Premier League title hopes, but now the season has restarted, the runaway leaders are determined to finish in style.

The Reds, who hold a 22-point lead over second-placed Manchester City with nine games remaining, appear destined to win their first top flight championship in 30 years. Two more wins will ensure the title will make its way to Anfield.

However, after the Premier League went into lockdown in March to combat the spread of Covid-19, there was no guarantee that the season would be concluded. The prospect of nulling and voiding the season was put forward, which would have denied Liverpool the title – although that was always going to be an unlikely outcome.

“When we went to lockdown I didn’t think about it for a second, like, ‘Oh my God, that’s now a season where we are so close.’ Not for a second, because that was not important in that moment," Klopp said.

“I became worried in the moment when people started talking about null and void the season. That would have been really, really, really hard."

The more probable scenario – if the season could not be concluded – would have been to decide the table on a points-per-game format. Liverpool would therefore have been awarded the trophy in absentia, but Klopp is happy they will have the chance to clinch the title on the pitch.

“We don’t expect to get it as a present, we didn’t want to have it on a points per game thing. So we were really happy when it was decided we can play again," he said.

“But there were moments [when] some people brought it up from time to time, for different reasons. When that was off the table then I felt quite relieved.

“Now we are here. If they would have done points per game and we couldn’t have played, we probably would now be champions.

"Now we aren’t, we have to play for it – that’s great, that’s how it should be in sports. And now we go for it. That’s it."

Liverpool can take the first significant step towards the title on Sunday when they make the short trip across the city to face rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby.

A match usually played in front of a packed and hostile crowd will instead be contested inside an empty Goodison Park as part of the health and safety measures introduced to allow the Premier League's resumption amid the pandemic.

“We know for a while already that we have no supporters. It’s all different but we cannot change that,” Klopp said.

“So we have to use the circumstances, not suffer from that. That means there’s a game between Everton and Liverpool, which is still a derby and important for both teams for different reasons. That’s what we are looking forward to."

Everton 'have to play a perfect game'

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti. Reuters

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has said the absence of fans on Sunday will be a disadvantage for his side.

"Everyone in football says your supporters are the 12th man, and we know how our fans support us in home game. But we have to respect the procedure," he said.

"I hope that soon we can have supporters and we have to manage this situation as best we can."

Everton have lost both previous games to Liverpool this season, including in the FA Cup when the Reds fielded a side made up largely of youth and fringe players.

While the Toffees have enjoyed a vast upturn in form since Ancelotti arrived in December, the Italian believes his team need to produce a perfect performance to defeat their rivals.

"I know how the Everton supporters look for this game, what they want to see from my team. We know really well what we have to do," said Ancelotti, whose side sit 12th in the table, six points behind seventh-placed Wolves in the race for a Europa League spot.

"We have to play a perfect game, showing character, sacrifice and personality. For sure to beat Liverpool you have to do more than play at 100 per cent.

"We have to consider this game as a great opportunity. It will be difficult of course because Liverpool are one of the best teams in the world, but we have to try."