Klopp: I can only apologise to everyone for Everton defeat | OneFootball

Jurgen Klopp issued an apology to Liverpool fans after Everton’s 2-0 win at Goodison Park left his side’s title hopes in tatters.

Liverpool, needing a win in Jurgen Klopp’s final derby as manager to move level on points with league leaders Arsenal, were second-best throughout as Everton claimed a deserved first Premier League home win over their bitter rivals since October 2010.

Liverpool’s defending was woeful throughout, and Jarrad Branthwaite’s scruffy finish in the first half and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s thumping header in the second put Everton deservedly in command.

Klopp’s side were unable to cope with Everton’s threat on set-pieces and were troubled by more finishing issues as Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah were all wasteful in attack.

The defeat leaves Liverpool three points behind Arsenal in second place with only four games to go and means Manchester City, who have two games in hand, can move two points above them with a win over Brighton on Thursday.

Klopp said after the game: “I’m very disappointed. We let it become the game Everton wanted. Two goals from set pieces. They are really strong. But we created a lot and didn’t score.

“Then in the second half we were emotional and in a rush, not really clear enough. Then we concede a second goal with a routine they do the whole season – we knew the ball was going there we just didn’t defend it well enough.

“It was free-kick after free-kick. That was part of the story. But we weren’t good enough.

“I didn’t expect that performance but it happened. It’s not the greatest moment we’re in but you have to fight through it, use your moments to get your momentum.

“I can only apologise to everyone who is with us – it’s hard for us but I know for our people it is especially hard. We should’ve done better but we didn’t and that’s why we lost.”