Everton dent Liverpool’s title hopes at Goodison Park

Jurgen Klopp’s final Merseyside derby as Liverpool coach couldn’t have gone any worse. Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes were dealt a huge blow by their rivals from across Stanley Park as Everton secured a vital 2-0 win at Goodison Park.

It was a result that nobody saw coming. Liverpool, despite their title charge stuttering in recent weeks, were still expected to dispatch an Everton team that conceded six goals to the current iteration of Chelsea, who could have conceded six away to Arsenal on Tuesday.

Sean Dyche likely never have dreamed the week since that defeat to Chelsea would have been so good. Not only did the Blues defeat relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, but in beating Liverpool they secured three additional points that nobody expected.

It took 30 minutes for the opening goal to arrive for the hosts, with Jarrad Branthwaite on hand to pounce on a rebound inside the penalty area. The defender rifled home a shot from close-range, although there was a subsequent VAR check.

VAR informed Andy Madley that there could have been an offside in the build-up, although the review determined that this wasn’t the case and the goal was allowed to stand.

Darwin Nunez’s season has been one of missed chances. Another was to follow just five minutes after Everton’s opener when the Uruguayan collected a fine pass inside the penalty area but his tame shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Liverpool almost drew level with the last kick of the first-half. Luis Diaz made space inside the penalty area and he curled a shot towards the bottom right corner, however Pickford was able to parry the ball wide.

Klopp will not remember his final Merseyside derby fondly

Liverpool didn’t look like a Klopp team for much of the match. While not picked by many to finish atop the standings before the start of the season, they were firmly in the title race, however their late-season collapse has been surprising.

Everton had a chance through Dwight McNeil just before the hour, however his long-range effort hit the underside of the crossbar via a slight touch from Alisson Becker.

Everton, though, managed to double their advantage through a Dominic Calvert-Lewin header. The English forward was able to run into the penalty area and perform a great leap above Liverpool’s defenders and Alisson had no chance.

Liverpool will leave Goodison Park knowing that their title hopes have been greatly hurt, as they now sit points behind Arsenal with four matches remaining. Manchester City sit four points back of the Gunners, but with two games in hand.