Liverpool’s defeat at Everton dashes Premier League hopes. football news

Everton picked up their first win in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park since 2010, dashing Liverpool’s Premier League title aspirations after a 2-0 defeat on Wednesday. Following the defeat, Jurgen Klopp’s side are still three points behind leaders Arsenal and just one in front of defending champions Manchester City, who have two games in hand. “We need a crisis at City and Arsenal and we need to win football games,” Klopp said of his team’s quest to win the title with four games left in their reign.

Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin took Everton eight points clear of the relegation zone.

The Toffees are now certain to extend their 70-year stay in the English top flight despite being deducted eight points over two charges of breaching financial regulations.

Klopp had never lost in his eight previous visits to Goodison but his last taste of the Merseyside derby was bitter.

Hopes of a wonderful goodbye are fast fading for the German after a nearly nine-year tenure that has upended the club’s fortunes.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said, “If we play like we did today we have no chance to consider ourselves in the race.”

“I think everyone has to look in the mirror and look at their performances to see if they have given everything. Do they really want to win the league?”

Feyenoord boss Arne Slot is being named as Klopp’s successor, according to reports and the weaknesses need to be exposed in a big summer for the Liverpool hierarchy over the past few weeks.

‘Energy, Commitment’

The Reds have won only one of their last four league games and have also been knocked out of the FA Cup and Europa League in recent weeks.

Klopp made six changes after resting several key players for the 3-1 win at Fulham on Sunday but he did not get the reaction he wanted.

Buoyed by their weekend win over Nottingham Forest to climb out of the relegation zone, Everton became the first team to go without a win in 13 Premier League games between December and April.

Everton boss Sean Dyche said, “Delighted with the performance of our players and delighted for Evertonians.”

“They’re a good team, we know that. There has to be commitment and energy from our side.”

Slow starts have been a recurring factor as Liverpool’s quest for four trophies has unraveled.

Everton thought they would be awarded a penalty in the opening minutes when Calvert-Lewin was brought down by Alisson Becker, but VAR intervened to save the visitors as the striker was ruled offside.

Alisson then fired home a Calvert-Lewin header and Ben Godfrey nodded in, as Liverpool struggled to deal with Everton’s threat from set-pieces.

More ridiculous defending from the Reds resulted in the opener in the 27th minute.

Alexis McAllister’s error went wide of the net for Branthwaite and despite Alisson’s best efforts the defender’s effort went wide of the post.

Going behind woke Liverpool from their slumber and only a combination of sloppy finishing and Jordan Pickford kept Everton’s lead intact at half-time.

Darwin Nunez fired clean through and straight at the England number one, before the Uruguayan teed up Luis Diaz from close range for Pickford to score.

Mohamed Salah’s decline in form has come at the worst time for Liverpool’s title challenge and the Egyptian made another good start over the bar.

Liverpool were camped in the Everton half after the break, yet the hosts pulled ahead just before the hour mark from another dead ball.

Calvert-Lewin was given a free header to power home Dwight McNeil’s corner at the back post.

Liverpool’s night culminated when Diaz’s powerful effort came back off the post and ultimately beat Pickford.

But Klopp was left disappointed at the final whistle as it looked as if he was set to leave Anfield with just one Premier League title to his name.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)