– This is the end of the title race for Liverpool, says club legend Jamie Carragher in the Sky Sports studio.
Because with the 0-2 loss at the neighbour’s home ground, it is starting to look difficult for Jürgen Klopp to get a dream farewell as Liverpool manager.
In recent weeks, the club has been knocked out of both the FA Cup and the Europa League, and in the Premier League title match there are three points up on league leader Arsenal with four games to go.
In addition, Manchester City are only one point behind with two games less played.
NEW DOWN TOUR: Jürgen Klopp complained after the defeat.
Photo: PAUL ELLIS / AFP
“You lost the league at Goodison Park,” chanted the Everton supporters – who in turn could cheer for the first home win over Liverpool since 2010.
In order for the chant of the city rival’s supporters not to vote, Liverpool are dependent on winning their four remaining games, while Arsenal and City concede points in two games each.
– Arsenal and Manchester City must have some very bad moments, says Klopp to Sky Sports.
– I can only apologize to everyone who supports us. It’s hard for us, but I know it’s especially hard for our supporters. We should have done better, but we didn’t, continues the Liverpool manager.
– If we play like today, we have no chance of being included in the title match, says Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
STRUGGLES IN FRONT OF GOAL: Both Mohamed Salah (left) and Darwin Núñez (right) have struggled to get the ball into the goal from open play in recent weeks. On Wednesday, they both missed several good opportunities.
Photo: Jon Super / AP
– It is not acceptable
Just after Everton took the lead, Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez had an adventurous opportunity.
The Uruguayan was played all alone with Jordan Pickford, but from a good position he sent the shot straight at the Everton goalkeeper.
– The chance Núñez missed before the break is unforgivable at this level, says Carragher after the match.
BUTCHER NÚÑEZ: Jamie Carragher.
Photo: JASON CAIRNDUFF / Reuters
– It is not acceptable when you are chasing the title, continued the Sky Sports expert who played 737 games for Liverpool in his career.
– He must score. He had the whole net to do it on, and then he slammed it straight at the keeper. It’s unbelievable, commented Gary Neville when it happened.
Núñez was bought by Liverpool in the summer of 2022, and in the almost two years he has been at the club, he has time and again been criticized for his missed chances.
– You want him to do well as he gives his all, causes trouble and scores a few goals, but when Liverpool are chasing the title you need the striker to score at Old Trafford and Goodison Park, says Carragher and continues:
– After two years there will be no improvement for him. This is who he is. He can cause problems, but he is unpredictable with the endings. It’s not enough to win trophies, so there’s a big decision to be made about him.
BAR: Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez shoots straight at Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Photo: Jon Super / AP
Without a goal in five hours
Liverpool manager Klopp expressed at the press conference afterwards that it was clear that the Liverpool players rushed in front of the goal.
After the national team period in March, Liverpool have struggled a lot in front of goal. The aforementioned Núñez is among those who have struggled the most, with just one goal in 429 minutes spread over eight games.
The one score also came at home against table jumbo Sheffield United, after Núñez blocked a pass from goalkeeper Ivo Grbic.
Since then, Núñez has gone 329 minutes, just over five hours, without scoring. On Wednesday, Liverpool had to manage both without an injured Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo, who was expecting a child.
– At the top, it’s a super intense job you have to do. You must always be in a full sprint and always chasing. The fact that we cannot change players there makes it difficult, says Klopp, who did not want to use 18-year-old Jayden Danns because of the physically demanding game.
– Liverpool were shocked
Everton were completely dominant at the start of the match, and already after five minutes the hosts were awarded a penalty kick. It was boiling at Goodison Park, but the noise level died down when the penalty was ruled out for offside.
The men in blue continued to press, and after just under half an hour the home crowd could cheer again.
Liverpool clawed it into their own box and were unable to clear the ball away. The opportunity fell to centre-back Jarrad Brantwaite, who sent the ball via goalkeeper Alisson and the post before the ball spun over the line.
– It is deserved. It seemed that Liverpool were shocked by what Everton brought here, commented Sky Sports expert Gary Neville.
It was Everton’s first goal against city rivals Liverpool since December 2021.
STOPPER DUEL: Jarrad Branthwaite managed to turn the ball around fellow stopper Virgil van Dijk.
RELIEF: … and then he could let loose the cheers together with his teammates.
DISAPPOINTED: … while the despair was palpable for Livepool players Rúben Dias (number 7) and Dominik Szoboszlai (number 8).
NOT SO HIGH IN THE HAT: Outgoing Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, was anything but happy after the late goal.
Liverpool lifted themselves after the late goal, but in addition to Núñez’s miss, Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah missed big chances before the break.
– It is almost unbelievable that Liverpool have not scored in the last five to ten minutes, said Viaplay expert Lars Tjærnås.
– Beating up Liverpool’s centre-backs
“Everton definitely deserve to be in the lead,” Carragher said, questioning the naivety Liverpool had shown before the break.
Liverpool thus had to turn the game around in the second half to really keep their title hopes alive, but instead it was once again the blue part of the city that could cheer.
From a corner kick, the ball fell to Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the back post and the Everton striker headed in 2–0.
– They cannot handle Calvert-Lewin. He beats up Liverpool’s centre-backs, commented Neville.
ROWING HIGHEST: Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin appeared at the back post and towered highest.
UNDER THE FLOODLIGHTS: The goalscorer of course grabbed the club crest when he fired up the home fans at Goodison Park.
DISAPPOINTED: Virgil van Dijk’s facial expression speaks for itself.
Liverpool found themselves deep in a dark hole with just over half an hour to go, but the attempt to dig themselves out was nothing special.
Díaz hit the post 20 minutes from time, but Liverpool had to leave Goodison Park goalless for the fourth time in their last six visits.
The short trip home across Stanley Park will be scoreless, and the title hope will fade away in Jürgen Klopp’s last season as manager of the Merseyside club.
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Published 24/04/2024, at 22.58 Updated 25.04.2024, at 08.57