Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Wayne Rooney believes Liverpool “deserve” to win the Premier League title but has joked part of him thinks it “would be good” if they miss out.

The Reds stand 25 points clear at the summit and need only six more points in their final nine games to claim the championship for the first time since 1990.

Karren Brady, vice-chairman of struggling, relegation-threatened West Ham United, had called for the season to be declared void after it was suspended earlier this month due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, Premier League clubs decided on Thursday to complete the current campaign, although games will not resume until May at the earliest.

And Rooney, now with Championship side Derby County, admits his allegiances to Liverpool’s two main rivals have left him slightly torn about the situation.

Liverpool news and transfers LIVE - Premier League title plan

“Liverpool will win the Premier League,” he said. “Now, as you can imagine, I have Everton fans phoning me up saying: ‘The season has to be cancelled!’

“And, of course, as an Evertonian and someone who played for Manchester United for 13 years, there’s a bit in me that thinks that would be good...

“But no. Liverpool have been fantastic. They have put so much work in. They deserve this title. Can you imagine waiting 30 years and then having it taken away like this? The right decision has been made.

“The fair thing is to finish 2019-20 – even if we have to lose next season in the process.”

Rooney, writing in his Sunday Times column, admits the Reds may have to wait a while before sealing the title and is against playing games behind closed doors.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if finishing the season takes until the end of 2020,” he said.

“Football, like every other industry, is in unknown territory and, just like every other industry, has to listen to the advice and take all necessary precautions. For me, that rules out finishing the season behind closed doors.

“When you play behind closed doors it still means bringing together a fairly large group of people.

“Most important of all, even for a closed-doors game you need ambulances, doctors, paramedics. They’re mandatory. Police may be needed too.

“Why bring them all to a football match when in this crisis they will be needed elsewhere for things that are far more important.”