Everton crush Liverpool’s title dreams in epic Merseyside derby victory | OneFootball

Everton claimed their first win over Liverpool at Goodison Park since 2010 to end the Reds’ Premier League title hopes.

‘You lost the league at Goodison Park,’ Everton fans chanted as they revelled in a historic night.

Everton handed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp his second loss in the Merseyside derby after nine years in charge.

Set-piece perfection and Pickford heroics seal the deal

Jarrad Branthwaite gave Everton the lead, finishing a set-piece in the 27th minute.

Liverpool tried to bounce back but Everton held on. Jordan Pickford made some excellent saves to keep his side in the lead.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubled the lead from another set-piece in the second half to damage Liverpool’s hopes of closing their gap with Arsenal at the top of the table.

It was much of the same story from the past few weeks for Liverpool. Darwin Nunez missed a glorious chance to pull the team back into the game.

Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Andy Robertson also missed guilt-edge chances as Everton won only their second Merseyside derby in 30 clashes.

Reds left reeling

The loss means Liverpool are now three points away from Arsenal, who are top of the table after humiliating Chelsea 5-0 yesterday.

Manchester City can overtake the Reds with a win over Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow.

Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk had urged the squad to put everything into a final Premier League push after the Atalanta loss, but they have continued to falter.

Klopp’s hopes of leaving Liverpool with another league title have now been dashed, crashing his perfect swansong.

The defeat exposed Liverpool’s Achilles heel this season – their inability to convert chances.

Klopp, ever the optimist, may look to the defensive positives. However, the feeling remains that with a more clinical attack, the narrative could have been very different.

Liverpool have the second worst shot conversion rate in the Premier League at the moment. They must find their mojo in front of goal if they want to finish the season well.