With the news that Liverpool are on the verge of appointing Arne Slot as the club’s new manager, we spoke with Dutch football expert Arthur Renard to get the lowdown on the incoming boss.

Tell us about Slot’s style of play; we hear that he favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, is very possession based and quite a high pressing game. How similar is his style to Jurgen’s?

Yeah, there is definitely a similarity, I think especially in the the high pressing, there’s definitely a similarity with the current Liverpool [but] Jurgen may be is a little bit different. You could maybe say that that Jurgen is a bit more direct.

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Arne Slot likes to build and play a little bit more football through the whole pitch, whereas maybe Klopp you could argue, he’s maybe more direct.

What I like about Slot is that he likes to play his game and the pressing game wherever he plays and against anyone. So it doesn’t matter if he plays, let’s say Real Madrid away or whatever game, he plays his style. And that is something I think Liverpool fans will like a lot.

In your article for BBC Sport, you mention Pep Guardiola’s influence on Slot. Tell us about that.

He’s a big fan of Guardiola, so I would say his style even more towards Guardiola [than Klopp], although I guess with Guardiola and Klopp they’d both like their teams to have the ball to attack.

He’s a huge admirer of of Guardiola. He [Slot] said: “Pep Guardiola gives me the ultimate joy in football.

“There is no team in the world I would rather watch than Manchester City, followed by Napoli, Arsenal and Brighton.

“But City – and again it is not my intention to compare us with them – have a similar style of play to how we want to play with Feyenoord: 4-3-3, building up from the back, wanting to apply pressure quickly.”

It could be, those Liverpool-Man City games if he gets appointed, that could be really interesting!

We’ve heard a lot about how he develops players and gets the most out of them, signing some gems at Feyenoord?

The striker, Santiago Gimenez, he came also for not that much money (€6m) and he has proved, especially in the title-winning season last year, he proved such an important player.

Slot’s managed to get some really good players on the cheap – and that must be music to the ears of the Liverpool owners.

There’s been quite a few players in the last few years and they’ve developed pretty well. He also has some young talents. There is one, Quilindschy Hartman, who actually made his debut for the Dutch national team as well (recently). If he is fit, I wouldn’t be surprised if he will play at the Euros. He’s a bit like Trent, a local guy, a wingback kind of player.

He [Slot] definitely has an eye for young talent and also has the kind of guts to give them a chance in the team. That’s something Liverpool and definitely its owners will like.

What about Slot’s personality and interactions with players and media?

He seems to get on really well with his players. You don’t really hear players being unhappy. He seems to have a very straightforward and relaxed approach.

There’s a clip of of of him at a team talk away at Ajax after the game, he’s he’s not really too emotional but but just kind of like (how) he is.

You can see he connects with his players but he still keeps some kind of like calm kind approach.

What about the concerns, the Premier League is a big step from Dutch football – as we’ve seen with Erik Ten Hag!

I think it’s a good point – and in the end of the day you never know whether somebody will be a success or not.

Personally I think to succeed Jurgen Klopp is just very tough regardless who you are. Even Xabi Alonso, who seems to be at the moment the, the top of the top, probably would find it difficult.

In terms of comparisons with Ten Hag it’s difficult to compare. But the budgets [available at Ajax vs. Feyenoord] I think the last two years Feyenoord of has spent around maybe 30 million on players where Ajax had an outlay of around 200 million and [Feyenoord] finished both seasons above Ajax.

An interesting quote is from Marco van Basten, who was talking in a Dutch TV talk show, and he said he is just sure he [Slot] can do it at Liverpool.

He said ‘he can go to Bayern Munich, Liverpool, you name it, you know, and he will do well’. And he says ‘players at Liverpool are even better.’ So it’s easier for them to kind of translate his message on the pitch.

I think he can manage that, if Van Basten says that, that obviously tells you something.

Taking the job from Klopp probably says something about Slot’s character, backing himself?

That definitely tells you something [and] probably it’s also a thing of you don’t get the Liverpool job offered every day! So that’s also a factor.

I think that’s a good thing about him, he’s not thinking too much in in dilemmas, in, in difficulties, in obstacles.

It is obviously a massive challenge to succeed someone like Klopp but he’s really positive; a really positive kind of person. He doesn’t really think in obstacles, but more in kind of like chances. And it’s a huge chance for him to to do well.

What’s your overall feeling, should Liverpool fans be optimistic?

I think that they should be definitely optimistic.

I like to look at what he’s done so far. Because even before Feyenoord, he was the manager of AZ Alkmaar and he was doing really well; they were actually first or second in the league when the season got suspended because of corona – and in Holland, for him, unfortunately, the season was cancelled.

Maybe he could have won the league that year [2020].

If you can do it at different clubs; Liverpool fans should be really kind of, enthusiastic, because why would he not do that at Liverpool?

I think there’s a lot of reasons to be optimistic.

A massive thanks to Arthur for his insight. You can follow Arthur on X @arthurrenard87.

Read Arthur’s article on BBC Sport: Slot – the ‘control freak’ inspired by Guardiola.

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Liverpool’s move for Arne Slot continued to develop at pace, while the Reds were linked with a highly-rated Bundesliga defender.

Liverpool have “strong interest” in Pacho

With Virgil van Dijk turning 33 in July, Ibrahima Konate injury-prone and Matip expected to leave, a new centre-back will needed at Liverpool this summer.

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Reds have “strong interest” in signing Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Willian Pacho at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old has already been linked with a switch to Liverpool this month and it looks as though he is a leading option to come in.

Pacho is a left-sided centre-back, which would not only add balance to the defence but also means he could be viewed as Van Dijk’s long-term heir.

4 things today: Slot moving fast & Van Djk fuming

• Arne Slot could be announced as Liverpool’s next manager this week, according to one report – this story has moved incredible quickly!

• “You can’t accept this” – Van Dijk claims Liverpool don’t deserve to win the league this season. He’s not wrong after that shambles on Wednesday night!

• The Reds skipper has also spoken positively about Slot, saying he “could be a Liverpool coach”. Have the Reds found their man?

• Time to sell Salah? Liverpool fans have had their say on the matter – what would you do?

Latest Liverpool FC News

• Crystal Palace want £60m for Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise this summer, should Liverpool plan to make an offer for either. Could Olise be an ideal replacement for Salah? (BBC Sport)

• Serie A rivals Roma and Lazio are set to fight it out for the signing of Matip when his contract expires – they look like ideal fits for the Liverpool defender (Football Italia)

Chat from elsewhere

• Man United are happy to sell Marcus Rashford in the summer, following a poor season. He has fallen off a cliff! (Mirror)

• Newcastle have made contact with Sporting CP defender and Liverpool target Ousmane Diomande over a big-money move – could the Reds be looking at Pacho instead? (A Bola)

Video of the day and match of the night

Arne Slot looks like the very strong favourite to be Liverpool’s next manager and he has admitted that he is a “huge admirer” of Man City boss Pep Guardiola…

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Match of the night is Brighton vs. Man City (8pm BST), but how much does that really affect Liverpool now?

At least the sun is shining for those on Merseyside, even if we’re keeping are heads down after the derby!

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Against Everton, we saw once again how wasteful Liverpool can be in front of goal, and these particular stats show how the pressure is getting to the players.

The Reds lost the Merseyside Derby 2-0, largely due to poor defending at set-pieces and being caught out by Everton early on.

Despite the two-goal defeat, Liverpool still created over two expected goals (xG), nearly double that of Everton.

In the first half, it was again the Reds’ finishing that let them down again – a consistent theme across the latter part of the season.

Liverpool’s inability to bury chances has flummoxed supporters, and it appears the pressure is getting to the forwards.

According to journalist Andrew Beasley‘s statistics, they have fallen well below the average when behind in games, but remain relatively standard when drawing or winning.

Opta say that non-penalty big chances are converted 39 percent of the time on average.

However, when Liverpool have been losing this season, they have only managed to convert three of 23 big chances, equating to 13 percent.

Spoke about this on a recent @DistanceCovered podcast.

Opta non-pen big chances are converted 39% of the time. When Liverpool have been losing this season, they've scored just three of 23, 13%.

They've been fine when drawing (39.1%) or ahead (40.8%). But not with more pressure. https://t.co/qLjPUOj5uR pic.twitter.com/MArZhg9JVC

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) April 25, 2024

This trend doesn’t continue when Liverpool have been drawing or leading, at 39.1 percent or 40.8 percent respectively.

Quite clearly this shows Jurgen Klopp‘s side miss more big chances when they are behind in matches – not ideal for a team who have conceded first 15 times this season in the league.

In fact, since Klopp announced he was leaving, Liverpool have the third lowest shot conversion rate in the division, according to journalist Duncan Alexander.

The manager has repeatedly apportioned some blame on Liverpool’s loss to Man United in the FA Cup, in which they missed countless opportunities only getting knocked out.

After the Everton match, he said: “It’s long ago but I blame a little bit the [Man] United game for it.

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“[Having] that many chances and you play really good but you don’t get anything for it. That’s really bad. Since then, we create but we don’t score often enough and that doesn’t help.”

Whether the extra pressure to make Klopp’s farewell a special one has got to the players, we can’t say for definite.

However, we do know that strikers who don’t score goals when given the opportunity, likely won’t be favoured for very long under the new manager.

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It is rare that there is ever a single, all-encompassing explanation for the sort of sudden collapse that has effectively ended Liverpool’s season over the course of the last two weeks.

But when an entire squad appears to lose form simultaneously, it is surely fair to ask if it might be rooted in one factor.

How can it be that the very same players who snapped into challenges, bullied opponents, and were ruthless in front of goal early in the campaign now look so slow, weak, and blunt?

Well, in the Reds’ case, it is hard to look beyond a mid-season injury crisis whose consequences appear only to have been delayed, rather than avoided entirely.

Clearly, Liverpool now have several players who were forced to take on too much during periods in which their teammates were sidelined, and look exhausted as a result.

What’s more, those who have come back from fitness issues are struggling with a loss of rhythm and sharpness, meaning they are some way short of their best.

The ramifications are missed chances, lost duels, and performances like those seen against Atalanta and Everton, which have derailed any hopes of further trophies being secured.

Klopp’s role – the pressing problem

But if it sounds like pointing this out is to absolve key figures at Anfield of any blame, then that is not the case.

The fact is, it is starting to feel like injury crises such as those that have hampered this campaign have simply become a feature of the latter part of Jurgen Klopp’s reign, and that the German is not entirely innocent.

Although Liverpool’s problems last season were many in number, persistent fitness issues were among them, and the same can be said of the forgettable 2020/21 campaign.

So, that is three out of the last four years in which injuries have played a significant role, a record that surely can’t be pinned on simple bad luck.

Instead, you wonder if the famously physical approach favoured by Klopp is starting to take its toll, and if it is sustainable to continue in a similar vein once he departs.

Evidence of Liverpool’s favoured style can be seen in the fact that they have averaged three tackles per 90 minutes in their attacking third this season, the third highest in the Premier League behind Everton (3.09) and Tottenham (3.31).

And, given that all top teams now use pressing as an important tool, it is no surprise to see Arsenal (2.82) and Manchester City (2.66) are not too far behind in fifth and eighth place respectively.

However, the huge difference between the title rivals can be seen in the fact that the Reds also rank third for tackles in the middle third of the pitch (7.41), while Arsenal (6.5) are 12th, and City (5.91) way down in 18th.

Intensity = injury issues

Clearly, Klopp is instructing his players to try and win the ball back aggressively across a far larger area, and a look at the three sides’ injury records this term suggests that comes at a cost.

City are further aided by the fact they often rest on the ball as the most dominant team in terms of possession in the league, while Arsenal’s superior compactness appears to reduce the distances they have to cover in rest defence.

The end result is that Liverpool are contending with injury problems more regularly than any title-chasing team can deal with.

Yes, the Reds have had their fair share of unfortunate blows, such as Joel Matip’s ACL rupture, Diogo Jota’s knee injury at Brentford, and Thiago Alcantara’s troublesome hip.

But repeat muscle problems for the likes of Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate felt avoidable, and turned a potentially difficult period into a full-blown crisis.

And that this has happened so frequently in recent years throws up the question of whether Liverpool’s next coach should be quite so wedded to such an aggressive defensive setup.

In Arne Slot, Michael Edwards and co appear to have identified a continuity candidate whose pressing style makes him a good fit to take charge of a squad built in Klopp’s image.

But if the Dutchman is to thrive at Anfield, then being subtly different to his immensely successful predecessor in terms of how the press is implemented might be just as useful as any similarities between the two managers.

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admits they do not deserve to win the Premier League after the unacceptable way the players have allowed the season to end.

Just over a month ago they were chasing an unprecedented but unlikely quadruple but a week after exiting Europe their Premier League title hopes were left in tatters after losing 2-0 at Everton in the 244th Merseyside derby.

Already third favourites in the title race, defeat means Jurgen Klopp’s final season is likely to end with just the Carabao Cup and Van Dijk criticised the general lack of appetite to drag things back in their favour at Goodison Park.

“Games likes these, the bare minimum is fight. We were lacking that at so many moments in games,” said the Netherlands captain.

“If you play like we did, obviously even if we create two or three clear-cut chances again, you don’t deserve to win the league.

“It’s crunch time and we’ve not been good enough in the way we finished the chances off, in the way we defended together and also the fight. I think we have to show much more.

“But we have to look in the mirror and each and every one of us has to think like… ‘Listen, you can’t accept this. You can’t accept the way we let our season end’.”

Klopp’s side look like they have been running on empty for the last month while also lacking the clinical edge which has for so long been a trademark.

Despite creating a handful of chances which they failed to take in the first half they petered out after the break in similar fashion to last week’s Europa League win over Atalanta in Bergamo when they needed to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit but managed just one goal.

Liverpool have not been playing well for a couple of months and have pulled a few results out of the fire but they have uncharacteristically crumbled at the key time.

“Obviously it’s a mix of everything. You can’t put a finger on it,” added Van Dijk.

“It’s confidence, inexperience, challenges, maybe afraid to make mistakes in this part of the season. I don’t know.

“It’s a mix but it brings us to the situation where we can’t accept this.

“We have to stick together. We can’t have groups blaming each other because that’s not how it works. It’s a team thing and I don’t blame anyone.

“I blame us as a team, as a group. Everyone has to look in the mirror. We can’t let the season end like this.”

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Virgil van Dijk has added to the speculation that Arne Slot is set to take over from Jurgen Klopp, saying after the Everton match “that he could be a Liverpool coach.”

While Liverpool’s players prepared to face Everton on derby day, directors were negotiating with Feyenoord to secure Slot as Klopp’s successor.

After the match, Van Dijk was asked about his Dutch compatriot, Slot, and told Viaplay: “I find it hard to answer of course, but I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment.

“I think the way of playing and the philosophy he has, that he could be a Liverpool coach.”

• READ HERE: Liverpool could announce Arne Slot as new manager this week

The Liverpool captain admitted he didn’t know if a deal had yet been struck with Feyenoord, adding: “I think from what I read and hear is that it’s still far from being completed.

“We shall see. We will focus on that next season, [it is] still a long way off”

So, it sounds like Van Dijk has been kept in the loop by Liverpool to a point, before concentrating on the Merseyside Derby.

On Wednesday, the Athletic reported that the Reds had their first offer of £7.7 million rejected by Feyenoord.

It has been widely reported that it will take at least £8.5 million to release him from his contract, that has him remaining at Feyenoord for two more years.

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Since, the Mail‘s Merseyside reporters have claimed: “The situation is developing quickly and talks to bring Slot to Anfield could even be concluded before the weekend.”

Van Dijk’s form may have dropped off to some extent in recent weeks, but this season he has proven he still has plenty to give.

As captain, he will play a big role in getting the new manager’s messages across and can continue to play in a back four should Slot be appointed.

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After another poor display from Mo Salah, this time in the Reds’ 2-0 defeat to Everton, some Liverpool fans decided that this summer is the time to sell him.

Salah is undoubtedly a legend, one of the greatest to ever wear the Red shirt you could say. However, his form since returning from injury has been a worry.

With just one non-penalty goal in his last seven Premier League appearances but, more importantly, consistently poor performances, some fans think he should be sold in the summer.

It is important to remember that the No. 11 was having an excellent season before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations but, at nearly 32-years-old, Liverpool will be thinking about cashing in on Salah.

If a Saudi Arabian club were to offer big money, the club and new manager may think it best to take the offer and reinvest.

Here, supporters reacted to another poor showing from Salah…

Salah is 32 in June. Just sell him now, I love him and he’s been a superstar but he’s not that guy anymore. At his age, in the PL, it’s just now gonna get better.

I’d give Nunez another year. If he turns 30 odd GA into 40 odd that’s massive and he can.

— SAM G-W (@OneSGW) April 24, 2024

People wanting rid of salah and VVD. Take a breather ffs. Was only a couple of weeks ago, we were lauding VVD for being back to us best

And Mo is Mo. Without his output we would really struggle

— We Are Liverpool (@WeAreLiv3rpool) April 25, 2024

“The inverted full-back tactics isolate Salah a lot. He has no support from Trent or whoever plays right back. When Trent plays, 90 percent of the time he’s looking to play the diagonal ball to the left winger.

“Salah’s no where near as good as he was but him not being involved or touching the ball much is down the inverted full-back tactics, in my honest opinion.” – Michael Jones in the comments.

Slot, Edwards, and Hughes need to move on Salah and Nunez. I think Diaz stays. A live threat. He and Nunez can't coexist in the same team. Impossible. New 9 needed badly. Slot will also need a monster player for the 6 position. Can't keep wasting MacAllister.

— Steve McVeigh (@Boxingscience20) April 25, 2024

It’s time for players to go.

We played some of our best football before the injured group returned, we played some of our best football when Mohamed Salah was on international duty.

That’s not a negative to Salah or the injured group but, it’s time to move on and freshen up!

— ? (@LFCApproved) April 25, 2024

Liverpool are still feeding off the signings they made back in 2017, the level of pressure on Van Dijk to lead at the back and for Salah to bail you out with a goal is off the scale…now one of those isnt doing that the team essentially looks shot.

— Dylan Jones (@dylslam24) April 25, 2024

“Time to offload Salah and Nunez. The former has been brilliant, the latter just an absolute donkey.” – Call_Saul in the comments.

I’d only sell Salah simply because of the Contract situation that’s it.

Letting him walk for free in 2025 is just stupid.

— Matt (@LegendEskimoBoy) April 25, 2024

Afcon 2024, the end of Mo Salah as we knew him.

That injury and the disappointment of not winning it was a massive hit.

Can’t believe they host that tournament mid-season all the time, makes no sense.

— ?????? (@WilcoFtbl) April 25, 2024

Salah hits the ball like a 8 year old lad these days. Zero power. Dunno what’s going on

— Graeme Kelly (@GraemeKelly1) April 24, 2024

“Salah was once a little monster physically, he used to hold off 6’5 centre backs for fun, now he barely challenges for the ball.” – dfhfdhgjm in the comments.

I fell sorry for Luis Diaz playing 3 positions because Nunez and Salah can’t be arsed. pic.twitter.com/El16ErXLa2

— Top Of The Kop (@TOTKHQ) April 24, 2024

Salah looked off it for weeks but saved his worst for tonight. So bad.

— Ian Ryan (@Ian1892T) April 24, 2024

“Salah has been a shadow of a player chasing his own shadow and having lost his confidence to the point he doesn’t attempt to dribble.” – Tim Tracey in the comments.

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Liverpool were abject in their 2-0 loss at Everton on Wednesday night, with a dreadful night dissected by two despondent Reds supporters.

Jurgen Klopp‘s men displayed the same wastefulness in front of goal and lack of intensity seen in recent weeks, on one of the worst days of the season.

Liverpool’s season has completely petered out after threatening so much and there is now a feeling that the end of the campaign can’t come soon enough.

Here, Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) and Dan Clubbe (@dan_clubbe) discuss an awful night, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and more.

Just how bad was that for you? Is the title gone?

DAN: Dreadful and brutal just about does it justice I think.

It felt like a 90-odd-minute display of all the issues that have befallen us in recent weeks as the season has started to unravel all horrendously packed into one.

For me, the title has gone, not just because we’re relying on an unlikely miracle from our rivals, but also because I have major concerns over our ability to win the last four at this point.

HENRY: I couldn’t agree more. What a damp squib this has turned into!

I feel like I’ve seen that game about 20 times this season – slow start, sloppy losses of possession and needless fouls given away.

It was alarming just how little fight was on show – the life just looks to have been sucked out of both Jurgen and his players.

Really depressing and I’m looking forward to the summer now. The title has long gone.

Are there any individuals that you’ve lost faith in? Nunez, for example?

DAN: Lost faith might be a touch strong for me right now.

Although undoubtedly the question marks are growing in my mind with the likes of Nunez, in particular.

Whilst he clearly brings loads to the table, running as hot and as cold as he does feels a tad unsustainable unless those around are always available to pick up the slack, which hasn’t been the case.

HENRY: I’m going to be a bit more harsh than Dan!

I’ve lost patience and faith in Nunez – his finishing is nowhere near reliable enough to be Liverpool’s leading striker for years to come.

He’s 25 this year, so he’s not a kid!

I would consider getting rid of him this summer if the right offer came along – his all-round game is too messy and unpredictable.

Diaz is also too wasteful – in fairness he was the only shining light last night – and with Salah completely out of sorts, those two haven’t stepped up enough.

Is it time to sell Salah? Or is that reactionary?

DAN: I wouldn’t say it’s reactionary because overall his performances this season haven’t been spectacular to his previous standard, and for a long time, the output was covering over some below-par displays.

We are now seeing what happens when the goals and assists dry up and the performances remain poor.

In terms of his future, it would be naive not to think there will be huge discussions this summer given the fact he’s entering the final year of his contract and we all know about the strong interest from Saudi Arabia.

As with a few in the squad, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens next with an almost entirely new immediate hierarchy.

HENRY: I think Mo is just far from fully fit and short on confidence, and still has so much to offer in his career.

That being said, if a massive Saudi offer arrived, you would surely have to consider it, seeing as he turns 32 in the summer.

I can easily envisage Michael Edwards giving his exit the green light.

I would prefer him to stay and think he still has two or three years in him at a high level, but he is a shadow of himself currently.

As someone said last night, he’s started kicking the ball like an eight-year-old, which is harsh on eight-year-olds!

Finally, do you almost feel that Klopp is leaving at the right time?

DAN: Wow! I would never say Klopp is leaving at the right time because I never want him to go, but there can be no doubt that for himself it’s the right time and recent results are probably further evidence of that.

Seeing him almost crestfallen on the touchline at Goodison was horrible and he certainly has the look of a man who needs a long break from the intense pressure of the job.

Also, from a squad point of view, we’re in such a healthy place despite the question marks and there is definitely cause for optimism with what comes next.

Having said that, he has overseen darker times than this at the club and brought us out the other side, so if he was staying I’d back him to get it right without doubt.

HENRY: I’m with Dan – I don’t want him to go!

But as he says, it’s the right time to move on for Jurgen’s sake – those images of him sitting down at Goodison were hard to watch.

He has nothing left to give.

It’s now a case of just getting through these last four games, giving Jurgen the greatest send-off imaginable and then embarking on a new era.

Nobody can replace Klopp, but let’s get behind the next manager and hope he brings a freshness to proceedings.

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp apologised to fans for the Merseyside derby defeat at Everton which has left his side needing a “crisis” to affect Arsenal and Manchester City in order to salvage their almost-impossible title hopes.

The German’s last visit to Goodison Park ended in his first defeat there, having previously won two and drawn five, after goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin left their chances of overhauling both their rivals in tatters.

They trail Arsenal by three points and have a vastly-inferior goal difference and while City are a point behind Liverpool they have two matches in hand.

“I can only apologise for today to the people. It is very disappointing. We played the game Everton wanted and they scored two goals from set-pieces. We should have done better but we didn’t,” said Klopp.

“No good thoughts at all. Very disappointed and frustrated. It was not good enough.

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“It was not the most inspired performance of all time, I really feel for the people. We never lost here (it was Everton’s first Goodison derby win in almost 14 years) and it feels really different. I really apologise for that.

“I can’t say now that we are still fully in it; we need a crisis at Man City and Arsenal and need to win football games because if they start losing all their games and we do what we did tonight nothing changes.

“We are not safe in the Champions League as well so we should just play better football.

“It is not a problem of attitude or what the boys want. No one is doing that on purpose.

“It is my job to bring them into a situation where they feel confident to do that. That part I am responsible and I am responsible for what happened tonight.

“It is not that I feel great, that is the most tricky part of football obviously. In the moment it didn’t work out and we have to keep trying.”

Victory for Everton lifted them eight clear of 18th-placed Luton, whom they still have to play, and almost certainly secured them top-flight survival.

“Pleased obviously, delighted with the performance against a top side, delighted for the Evertonians and the old-school Toffees,” said manager Sean Dyche.

“They were terrific. Terrific on Sunday. I am pleased for the club, only the second win in 30 (derbies) I am told.

“I think the game was won in the tactical delivery of the team. The performance and level of the performance was top notch. I want to play beautiful football but I want to play winning football first.

“This is not as satisfying as the final game of last season (when they escaped relegation with a win over Bournemouth) but it is satisfying to give something back. It is a different kind of satisfaction, believe me.”

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Liverpool’s abject display in their 2-0 defeat away to Everton was rightly slaughtered by the media, as the Reds’ season fizzles out.

Jurgen Klopp‘s reign is ending in a whimper and it’s painful to watch.

Liverpool were deservedly beaten at Everton on Wednesday night, as the Reds produced a tired, sloppy showing, losing their first away Merseyside derby since 2010.

Here’s how the media reacted to this latest defeat.

Liverpool were unbelievably poor and rightly criticised…

The Independent‘s Richard Jolly said this was Klopp’s worst derby as Liverpool manager:

“So now Jurgen Klopp has another reason why he will not to miss the Merseyside derby. His last trip to Goodison Park was his worst.

“On a night when Everton had multiple reasons to celebrate, they saw off Klopp with the result that all but secures them a 71st consecutive season of top-flight football and may in effect finish off Liverpool’s title challenge.

“‘You lost the league at Goodison Park,’ chorused the Evertonians. Klopp has caused them untold pain over the last eight years.

“Finally, he was given a taste of how painful Merseyside derbies can be for the losers.”

Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph felt exactly the same way:

“And then there were two.

“The title dream is over for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, their fading hopes dismantled as neighbours Everton inflicted what is arguably the most deflating league result of the German’s nine year reign.

“When it comes to Merseyside derbies in the Klopp era, Liverpool left the worst until last. Klopp’s goodbye will not be romantic.”

David Lynch took to Twitter to focus on a “sorry end” to Klopp’s reign:

“Liverpool’s title challenge ended by their local rivals and they can’t say they deserved anything more. Bullied from minute one by hungrier opponents and so lacking in nerve and quality whenever they created chances.

“It’s been a sorry end to Jurgen Klopp‘s final season.”

Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back in his criticism of his former club:

"That's not acceptable at this level" ?@carra23 has a lot to say after Liverpool's performance tonight ? pic.twitter.com/JfjWp9nVr2

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2024

Some players have tailed off alarmingly this season…

Alex Richards of the Mirror focused on an awful night for Mohamed Salah:

“Klopp brought Mohamed Salah back into his attack, but the Egyptian hasn’t been in the best form recently and that continued here.

“Klopp stated after the second leg in Bergamo that he was ‘not concerned’ by Salah’s recent form. That’s despite only one goal from open play in his last seven games and a number of games where he just hasn’t quite looked like himself.

“He had chances here and had more shots in the game than anyone else on the field. However, too often they were scuffed, or wayward, and he couldn’t produce the kind of clinical moment which has been a regular feature during his record-breaking time at Anfield.

“For him, perhaps more than any other, a very disappointing night.”

Writing in his post-match ratings for the Echo, Ian Doyle wasn’t impressed with Ibrahima Konate:

“Nightmare first half for the Frenchman, who was bullied by Calvert-Lewin and got in the way to set up Everton opener.

“Instantly gave ball away at start of second half.”

Meanwhile, This Is Anfield’s Matt Ladson has seen enough from Darwin Nunez at this point:

“Darwin Nunez will never be the answer for Liverpool.

“Two years is enough to judge, get him gone this summer.”

It’s fair to say that Liverpool’s race is run…

Richards certainly think that’s the case:

“Jurgen Klopp had never lost a Merseyside derby in the Premier League. He has now.

“And with his unbeaten record at Goodison, a second Premier League title has likely gone too.”

Phil McNulty of BBC Sport didn’t completely write Liverpool off, but admits it’s almost done:

“Liverpool’s players trooped off with heads bowed at the final whistle, some nursing grievances with the officials but the frustration was surely more the knowledge that this might be a decisive night in their title challenge.

“They cannot be written off, of course, but Liverpool suddenly look like a side out of energy and ideas, with even the normally reliable Mohamed Salah misfiring all night.

[…]

“Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have defied the odds before but the manner in which they played, and in which they made their retreat at the final whistle, made it clear what damage this defeat has done.”

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There were some wretched individual performances in Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to Everton, with the Reds’ season completely falling apart.

Jurgen Klopp‘s side had to win to keep their Premier League title hopes alive – it’s fair to say they are over now!

Liverpool never deserved anything at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring the goals for the home side.

For Klopp and his side, this is an increasingly shambolic and sad end to a season that once promised so much.

Here we compare our player ratings with those of the Liverpool Echo, GOAL, FotMob and This Is Anfield’s readers.

So many Liverpool players were woeful on the night, but Ibrahima Konate (3.3) was the unwanted recipient of the lowest average rating.

The Frenchman is an excellent young centre-back, but his form has tailed off alarmingly this season and he was awful at Goodison.

TIA’s Mark Delgado bemoaned a “genuinely awful attempt” from Konate that “led to the opening goal” by Branthwaite, adding that he was “lucky to have lasted an hour.”

The second-worst score went to Nunez (3.6), who was once again guilty of missing a huge chance, offering nowhere near enough.

Ian Doyle of the Echo said that Liverpool “became less effective longer game progressed”, with fans beginning to lose faith in the Uruguayan.

Dominik Szoboszlai (3.7) has seen his first season in a Reds shirt drop off hugely, and he was also poor.

Mark Doyle of GOAL described the Hungarian as a “cheap imitation of the player who had such an excellent first half of the season.”

Meanwhile, Delgado called it an “absolute ghost display” by Szoboszlai, who like so many, offered no quality and fight throughout.

There was arguably only one player who deserved any credit at Goodison and that was Luis Diaz (6.4), who at least gave his all.

The Colombian got the highest rating from FotMob, who pointed out that he had a 91 percent pass accuracy and won both of his two tackles.

Liverpool now face a quick turnaround, with a trip to West Ham to come on Saturday lunchtime (12.30pm BST).

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Virgil van Dijk has urged the Liverpool squad to “look in the mirror” after their 2-0 loss at Everton, asking his team-mates “did they really give everything?”

There were few, if any, who came away from Goodison Park with any credit; Luis Diaz, who endured a fruitless night on the left wing, was arguably the standout.

Defeat in Jurgen Klopp‘s final Merseyside derby should serve as the death knell for Liverpool’s title hopes – and it should be stressed that top four is not yet guaranteed.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Van Dijk turned the spotlight on the players themselves, urging them to “look in the mirror.”

“Very disappointed, in so many ways,” the captain, who struggled throughout, began.

"We weren't good enough."

A 'very disappointed' Virgil van Dijk reacts to Liverpool's 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park ? pic.twitter.com/g4IcvfJGsY

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2024

“I think everyone has to look in the mirror, look at their own performance [and ask] did they really give everything? Do they really want to win the league?

“Obviously we’re fighting and we still have games after tonight.

“But if we play like we did overall in the game like today, not winning challenges and giving the ref an opportunity to give a free-kick, like he did many times, then we have no chance to win the title.

“It’s a tough one. Obviously we have to be much better against a side that’s playing against relegation.

“Now it’s time to focus on the 12.30pm kickoff again.”

When it was put to Van Dijk that Liverpool looked like they had simply run out of ideas, the Dutchman seemed to agree.

“You try to force things. I think we gave too many crosses where they could just clear it quite easily,” he replied.

“I still think we had, in the first half, clear-cut chances that we should have scored.

“But eventually, we weren’t good enough. We all have to do much better.

“We can’t let the season go out like tonight – and the first half against Crystal Palace especially, that was also very disappointing.

“We have to do much better, in every sense, it’s a tough one.”

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After Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to Everton many fans were left baffled as Jayden Danns went unused, but Jurgen Klopp has explained why he did not bring him on.

The Reds were toothless up front again on Wednesday night, with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez particularly poor as they failed to convert big chances.

Throughout the 90-plus minutes at Goodison Park, one of Liverpool’s most natural finishers – a youngster who has been in sensational form all season – was left unused.

Danns spent the night watching on, with Salah, Nunez and Luis Diaz playing the full game, much to the frustration of supporters.

But in his post-match press conference, Klopp explained his decision not to use Danns, who in the manager’s defence had clocked 75 minutes in Liverpool U21s’ 2-1 loss at Sunderland only two nights previous.

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“I know we had Dannsy on the bench, I know, but in that physical game, I didn’t want to [risk him],” Klopp said.

“And he played [on Monday], obviously we didn’t know that we’d have to bring him in.

“The two situations, with Diogo we only learned two days ago and Cody actually only really today.

“So now that’s not a game for an 18-year-old boy. Tarkowski and Branthwaite kill you in these situations and that doesn’t help.”

While Diogo Jota picked up a knock in the 3-1 win at Fulham on Sunday, scans on his hip were not clear until the following day, while Cody Gakpo left the squad at the last minute to support his partner during labour.

That forced a late reshuffle of the ranks with both Danns and Bobby Clark brought onto the bench having played on Monday.

Still, the assertion that Tarkowski and Branthwaite would “kill” Danns is a questionable one, given how laughably Salah and Nunez performed.

Would Danns have fared any worse at a time when Liverpool really needed to roll the dice in the hopes of a comeback?

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Liverpool’s league title hopes slipped away, much to the delight of the home fans in Jurgen Klopp‘s final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park

Everton 2-0 Liverpool

Premier League (34), Goodison Park
April 24, 2024

Goals: Branthwaite 27’, Calvert-Lewin 58’

Taking chances — or not

It’s been a familiar tale for Liverpool in front of goal. Normally they end up creating enough chances that they can afford to miss a few, but when none of the strikers are finishing, it becomes a problem.

Sadly, it’s become expected that Darwin Nunez will miss an easy chance or two in each game, but that has become even more of an issue as taking or missing chances is the difference between winning a trophy or not.

In order to win the league, a team needs clinical forwards putting chances away, and firing in goals they wouldn’t be expected to score.

Nunez has his obvious strengths, but the finishing issue has become even more pertinent as Liverpool become desperate for goals as they challenge for trophies.

The Reds created two big chances in the first half, and their xG after the first 45 minutes was 1.29, per FotMob.

Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz also missed good opportunities in the opening period, and this kind of wastefulness looks like it will ultimately cost Liverpool a last tilt at the title under Jurgen Klopp.

It’s not all on Nunez, and Salah, as the team’s star player — someone Klopp has described as the club’s best finisher by some distance — has been disappointing in key moments.

Andy Robertson mis-kicking a volley in an offside position summed up the lack of threat.

You might expect it from a left-back who rarely scores, but the forwards were no better.

Liverpool’s lost momentum

Players coming back from injury should always be a good thing, but this Liverpool side has looked disjointed as several players have all returned to the team at the same time.

Just as Caoimhin Kelleher was rusty in his early starts deputising for Alisson, Liverpool’s No.1 has not looked at his usual world-class best since re-taking his place between the posts and made an error for the first goal.

Trent Alexander-Anold has returned and been an obvious asset, but Liverpool did look like a more orthodox, maybe even more reliable, threat when the playmakers were further forward, as Trent might be were he bombing down the right rather than dropping in.

There was a togetherness about the patchwork version of Klop’s side that doesn’t seem to be quite there since players have returned.

The two sides of Mac Allister

Alexis Mac Alister was far from the worst player in red, but his position in midfield can affect so much of the dynamic of Liverpool’s play.

He was second to things in defence, sometimes resorting to fouls, and his long balls were hit and miss in this game.

This is as much a tactical issue as it is a Mac Allister one. Liverpool spent much of the game with their playmakers too deep.

By the time Wataru Endo came on in the second half, in an attempt to remedy the situation and push Mac Allister further forward, the game felt like climbing a mountain.

Endo’s first touch led to an Everton chance, which summed up the atmosphere into which these substitutes were arriving.

Failing to silence Goodison Park

It was an atmosphere in which Liverpool wilted. The games against Man United and Everton always looked potentially awkward in this run-in, and they proved to be so.

Ultimately, the first impressions of this game were what set the tone, and Liverpool’s wasn’t good enough to silence the Goodison crowd, and gave Everton too much hope.

When their team are under the cosh and making mistakes, the Goodison crowd can get on top of their own team in a negative way.

But when the opposite is true, when the opposition give Everton a chance to not only stay in the game but take the lead in it, the old stadium can be a cauldron.

Once that happened, Liverpool struggled to silence it. In fact, the mistakes and misses, the annoyance and the complaints from Klopp’s players, only gave Everton and their crowd more to cheer.

“You lost the league at Goodison Park,” sang the Everton fans at the end of the game, and though Liverpool lost the league through a string of bad performances and results, this game will in many ways define the end-of-season collapse.

What next?

Manchester City, with two games in hand on Liverpool and Arsenal, still have the league title in their hands but Arsenal have looked solid in the run-in.

All Liverpool can do is win their remaining games, but on this display that in itself looks like it will be a huge challenge.

Games that once would have been looked at and points totted up to see how many they would get in the title challenge, now look more difficult.

West Ham could pose a similar threat to Everton, while Spurs, Villa, and Wolves have some really good players who could cause Liverpool problems.

It is safe to say Liverpool’s season has petered out, but the players owe it to Klopp to end on a high, even if it won’t end it with the trophies they wanted.

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