Liverpool’s Premier League aspirations have become somewhat of a formality following the Reds’ record-breaking 2019/20 campaign.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JUNE 02: Liverpool’s players celebrate on board an open-top parade bus during the UEFA Champions League victory parade, after winning yesterday’s final against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid, on June 2, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp’s champions-elect are currently 22 points clear at the league summit – an English top-flight record. They are just six league matches away from PL immortality which has prompted many questions regarding the club’s imminent title parade.
Regardless of when Liverpool do actually mathematically confirm what has become a foregone conclusion for some time now, club-captain Jordan Henderson will not be allowed to get his hands on the trophy until Liverpool’s last home match of the season against Chelsea on May 9.
Premier League protocol means that regardless of how early Liverpool end their 30-year wait for a league title the Reds will have to wait until the penultimate league match of the season before the trophy can be presented at Anfield.
If Klopp’s unbeaten juggernauts are to continue their winning streak during their next six league matches and current holders Manchester City avoid any slip-ups during that period then Liverpool can make their status as champions official against Crytal Palace on March 21 which would shatter the earliest Premier League title win achieved by Manchester United when they claimed victory in 2000-01 on 14 April.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JUNE 02: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Liverpool players celebrating after winning the UEFA Champions League at the parade on June 02, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Getting the job done as early as possible will be the main priority for Klopp – allowing the German manager to then prioritise the Champions League alongside the FA Cup to fulfil Liverpool’s aspirations of an improbable treble to emulate United’s feat back in 1999.
Liverpool have become so dominate on all-fronts over the past year that supporters now crave more than just a solitary league title come the end of the season. There is a desperation from the players to retain their Champions League crown as well as reign supreme domestically.
This then complicates matters regarding potential dates for an anticipated title parade. Liverpool city council have to plan well-in-advance due to road closures meaning a proposed date has been set for May 18 – the day after Liverpool play their final PL match at Newcastle – with hotel prices reportedly (souring) to over £20,000.
Should Liverpool reach a third consecutive Champions League final that is scheduled to take place Saturday, May 30, however, whether Klopp would then be open to the idea of a victory parade essentially just under a fortnight before a European Cup final remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, this could then raise eyebrows with the possibility of Liverpool then risking a title parade just days after a potential Champions League final defeat.
The most logical scenario would be for the club to factor in two potential parades on the basis that another Champions League success isn’t as conclusive as their imminent Premier League triumph.