Liverpool’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title were dealt a significant blow as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Everton. The loss, Klopp’s final Merseyside derby, marked the first time the Reds have suffered defeat at Goodison Park since 2010. Everton’s triumph was built upon their dominance in set-piece situations, with goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both originating from dead-ball scenarios. The result leaves Liverpool reliant on other teams dropping points to have any chance of challenging for the title. Currently, they trail Arsenal by three points and hold a one-point advantage over Manchester City, who have two games in hand. The Gunners, who thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday, will face Tottenham this weekend, while City have a potentially difficult trip to Brighton on Thursday night. Despite the setbacks, Klopp remained focused on securing a top-four finish, acknowledging that Liverpool are not yet safe in the Champions League. Tottenham, who have played fewer games than Liverpool, trail the Reds by 14 points but still have a trip to Anfield, as well as home matches against Arsenal and City. Liverpool’s sluggish start at Goodison Park allowed Everton to dictate the tempo of the match, with the Toffees denied an early penalty after a VAR review deemed Calvert-Lewin to be offside before being brought down by Alisson. The visitors conceded a succession of cheap free-kicks, enabling Everton to capitalize on their aerial prowess, with Branthwaite and James Tarkowski winning virtually every header in the Liverpool box. Klopp expressed his disappointment with his team’s performance, acknowledging that they allowed Everton to control the game and failed to defend set-pieces effectively. He admitted that Liverpool were not good enough and must accept responsibility for their shortcomings.
Liverpool’s Title Hopes Fizzle Out After Everton Defeat, Top-Four Position Now Uncertain
