Jurgen Klopp has admitted he was worried that coronavirus might prevent Liverpool from winning the Premier League title.
Having built up a 25-point lead over nearest rivals Manchester City, the Reds needed just two more wins to clinch their first league championship in three decades when the spread of Covid-19 brought football across Europe to a halt in mid-March.
Uncertainty over whether the campaign might be completed at all led to suggestions it could be decided by a points-per-game system, or even voided entirely - an outcome that would have extended Liverpool’s drought into a 31st year.
And Klopp has now explained that mentions of the latter possibility were a source of major concern for him during the early stages of lockdown.
Asked if he had fretted over a potentially heartbreaking conclusion to the season, the German replied: “Honestly, yes.
“I didn't think when we went to lockdown, 'Oh my god, that is our season, we are so close', because it was not important in that moment.
“I became worried in the moment when people started talking about 'null and void' this season because I was like, 'Wow'. And I really felt it physically. That would have been really, really hard.
“We don't expect to get it as a present so we didn't want to have a points-per-game basis, so we were really happy when it was decided we could play again.
“There were moments when some people brought it up from time to time for different reasons but when it was off the table I felt quite relieved.
“If they had done points per game and we couldn't have played then we would have been champions, but now we aren't and we have to play for it and that is great, that is how it should be in sports. And now we go for it.
“We don't think in our mind we are already there. We know the situation in the table, we saw City playing, we see all the other teams.
“We needed a lot of work to come around to where we are this season but we needed luck as well and that's what we need again.
“It will be tough, tougher than tough, the next few weeks. I hope I can enjoy it as hard work is never a problem for us but we need to make sure we can play the best football we can play.
“But we will be fine and we will see what we have to celebrate and how we celebrate but these things are only important in the moment when it has finally happened and not before.”
