Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Extra time is looming for Ighalo
KOP legend Terry McDermott could not care less if Liverpool ended up clinching the Premier League title playing on the Moon.
It is highly likely that when the Premier League campaign restarts, Jurgen Klopp’s side will see any potential title-clinching game switched to a neutral ground.
That includes the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park – Liverpool’s first game back – due to the possibility that they could be crowned champions if Manchester City slip up.
Merseyside Police confirmed on Friday that would allow Liverpool to see out the season at Anfield – but that is based solely in relation to crime and disorder.
Decisions based on public health risk – and specifically coronavirus – will have to be made by the Government and Public Health England in line with the recommendations made nationally in relation to sporting events. McDermott (below), who won five titles during his time with Liverpool, insisted: “I’m just glad that the Premier League season is being concluded where it should be – out on the pitch.
“Obviously, it would be great for Liverpool to be able to win the Premier League at
Anfield even behind closed doors.
“But I wouldn’t want to be the person to have given that the go-ahead if suddenly you are confronted with thousands of fans turning up outside the ground.
“If there were any problems, whoever made that decision would be slaughtered.
We’ve waited so long for the title that, to be honest, I couldn’t care less if we won it playing on the Moon.”
McDermott and his fellow Anfield match-day hosts, who include Ian Callaghan, David Johnson and Alan Kennedy, would give anything to witness at first hand the end of the three decades of league hurt.
“Of course, I would love to be there when we actually lift the Premier League trophy – and so would all the Liverpool old boys, but these are strange times, ones we have never experienced before,” he admitted.
“Some people are saying it will be an anti-climax, but try telling that to the fans. The fact that it’s 30 years since the last title means they are still going to celebrate – even if they have to watch the game that seals it on TV.
“It’s far better that Jurgen Klopp’s side complete what will still be an incredible season on the pitch, instead of some asterisk being placed beside the 2020 Premier League title success if it had been decided on a points-per-game system.
“And could you imagine the outcry if the season had been declared null and void after a campaign in which Liverpool have been by far the best team in the country?
“I wouldn’t have liked to have been the guy on the end of the phone delivering the news to the club that the season was declared null and void and you’re not getting the title!
“There would have been hell to pay. Now there can be no arguments. And it’s the same at the bottom of the league.
“Now whoever goes down, once all the games have been completed, will have deserved that fate.
“And Liverpool can prove in a proper manner that they are the best club in the country.
“Hopefully the fans can celebrate somewhere.”