Jurgen Klopp has pledged to take part in any trophy parade for a retrospective title win – if Man City are stripped of the honors due to financial costs.
Manchester City is still awaiting a hearing into 115 allegations of financial misconduct from the Premier League, with a resolution not expected until next summer.
If found guilty, the Manchester club risk being stripped of their titles won during the period in question, which could mean Liverpool are deemed champions for both 2018/19 and 2021/22.
It would be an unprecedented situation for English football, but one that would be welcome, with a degree of status quo restored.
During his farewell event at the M&S Bank Arena on Tuesday night, host John Bishop told Klopp that his record of one Premier League title could be extended to three.
“If you organize a bus parade – I’m in favor! I don’t care how long it takes!” joked the outgoing manager.
In response, Bishop assured Klopp that the authorities in the city would “close the roads” for Liverpool and its fans to celebrate.
However, the 56-year-old added that his sense of legacy at Liverpool is not about the trophies he and his players have won, but about “the things we’ve been through together”.
“You might remember the game against Man City where the ball was pretty much thrown in and John Stones (deleted), it was like 11-something (millimeters),” he told the 11,000 fans in attendance.
“Then City won at Burnley, the ball was thrown in exactly the same distance. Like, wow. So could you be any more unhappy? Maybe I do not know.
“It’s just a fact. It’s not like I wake up at night, ‘oh my god’.
“Rodri’s handball, come on, it was against Everton, everyone gathered, I remember exactly how it was.
“But I’m still a happy man, honestly. (Having three titles) would obviously change a few things, but not for me personally.
“I come tonight and say goodbye and you say ‘would you be in a different mood if we had won the league three times or once?’
“I know it’s all about success, but the relationship we’ve created is independent of trophies. IT IS.
“It’s based on trust, togetherness, the experience we’ve gained together, the things we’ve gone through together.
“Trophies are important – if we don’t win anything, you have a bye after a year and a half, and obviously it’s not the same – but that’s what it’s about.”
