How the national media reacted to Liverpool's 2-0 defeat at Everton as the Reds effectively saw their Premier League title hopes ended

How the national media reacted to Liverpool's 2-0 defeat at Everton as the Reds effectively saw their Premier League title hopes ended

Liverpool news as Virgil van Dijk is criticised for a sly dig he made following his side's defeat to Everton which all but ended their title chances

Liverpool news as Virgil van Dijk is criticised for a sly dig he made following his side's defeat to Everton which all but ended their title chances

Liverpool suffered a damaging defeat in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, as Merseyside rivals Everton secured a 2-0 win at Goodison Park. The Reds remain in second in the table but are three points off Arsenal with four games to go.

Jürgen Klopp admits his side need Arsenal and Manchester City to suffer a crisis in the final weeks of the season to stand any chance of winning the title. Pep Guardiola's side has two games in hand, starting with the trip to Brentford on Thursday night.

Liverpool had hopes of an unprecedented quadruple but it has been a difficult month for the Reds, who now have just four matches remaining of the Klopp era. Next up is a trip to West Ham and the players must dust themselves down and end the season on a high.

READ MORE: Liverpool defensive issues broken down as seven players could do more to stop Everton opener

READ MORE: Gary Neville hits nail on head over Liverpool avoiding same problem as Man Utd and Arsenal

Off the pitch, Liverpool is working towards appointing Klopp's successor. Arne Slot has emerged as the new leading candidate to replace the German and BBC Sport reports talks are underway with his current club Feyenoord.

Here, Liverpool.com takes a scan around the Premier League and across the continent to see what's going on at Liverpool's rivals after the loss to the Toffees.

Man United plots 12 exits in mass overhaul?

Manchester United could part with as many as 12 first-team players this summer, according to The Mirror. New minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants a mass overhaul of the squad and will also look to bring in six fresh faces within the transfer window.

Ratcliffe has made his intentions clear that change is needed is needed this summer after scraping by Coventry City on penalties to reach the FA Cup final. United also looks set to miss out on the top four.

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Financial Fair Play (FFP) will limit spending, meaning player sales will be needed to fund any future incomings. Newly-appointed technical director Jason Wilcox will lead the review, which could see first-team stars such as Harry Maguire, Raphaël Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof all leave.

Meanwhile, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, Christian Eriksen, Antony and even home-grown talent Marcus Rashford could be sold. Sofyan Amrabat's loan deal will also not be renewed.

Liverpool.com says: While it seems dramatic, an overhaul is certainly needed at Old Trafford. United's season has been a disaster and major changes are needed. It remains to be seen if Erik ten Hag will remain in charge past this season. Improvements are needed to close the gap on Liverpool, Arsenal and City.

Newcastle leads race for Reds target?

Newcastle United is leading the race for Sporting Club de Portugal defender Ousmane Diomande, according to A Bola. Liverpool had previously been linked with the player (via Football Insider), although it is the Magpies reportedly currently in the driving seat to secure the deal.

The 20-year-old reportedly has a release clause of $85million (€80m/£68m) in his current contract, which Eddie Howe's side would look to negotiate. Diomande has not been as prominent in the Sporting CP side since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast and that could now open the door to a transfer exit this summer.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Juventus are all said to be keeping tabs on Diomande. He is contracted until 2027 and is one of the lowest earners at the club, with the Portuguese giants in no rush to sell him.

Liverpool.com says: Liverpool had previously been linked with the player but that may well have been down to speculation that his manager Rúben Amorim could move to Anfield. At least one central defender will be needed this summer and Diomande would be a great addition, albeit an expensive one.

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Liverpool saw its Premier League title hopes take a hammer blow as it was beaten 2-0 by Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park. The Reds now sit three points behind Arsenal with four games to go, with the leaders having a far superior goal difference.

Jürgen Klopp's side did have chances but were again wasteful in front of goal and failed to deal with Everton's attacking threat from set-pieces as Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin found the net.

Speaking after the match, Klopp admitted that Liverpool needs Arsenal, and third-placed Manchester City, to suffer a crisis in the final weeks of the season to stand any chance of ending the campaign as champions.

READ MORE: Gary Neville hits nail on head over Liverpool avoiding same problem as Man Utd and Arsenal

READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk offers verdict on Arne Slot becoming next Liverpool manager as 'talks underway'

Klopp told Sky Sports: "I can only apologize for today, to the people and everybody who is with us knows how hard it is for us as well. We should have done better but we didn’t and that is why we lost.

Liverpool returns to action against West Ham on Saturday lunchtime and Klopp will be after an improvement from his players. He will be particularly unimpressed with Everton's opener in the first half, with a number of his players not covering themselves in glory.

Free-kick given away

Liverpool struggled to handle Everton's intensity in the first 30 minutes at Goodison Park and continued to give free-kicks away inside its own half. Curtis Jones was culpable this time for a foul on Idrissa Gueye and Everton made the Reds pay.

Jamie Carragher was particularly critical of Liverpool's naivety on Sky Sports, saying: "Liverpool was giving silly, stupid fouls away. That is not using your brain.

"That gave Everton the opportunity to put the ball in the box and it is as good as anyone in the country at set-pieces. When you come to Goodison as a Liverpool player, there are two or three rules you always do. You don’t give silly fouls away and get the crowd up and you move the ball on quickly."

Van Dijk and Szoboszlai caught out by set-piece

Everton's tactic was clear throughout Wednesday's derby as it put a 'blocker' on Virgil van Dijk, stopping the Liverpool captain from winning the ball in the air. Ben Godfrey was often the man given the task and pulled it off again for Dominic Calvert-Lewin's second goal.

This time, Van Dijk was given a slight nudge from James Tarkowski as he mistimed his jump, allowing Jarrad Branthwaite to make initial contact with the free-kick and head towards goal. Branthwaite was also easily able to get in front of Dominik Szoboszlai, who didn't do anywhere near enough to stop his run.

Carragher added: "Everton did a job on Van Dijk, saying 'if we block him, we are going to get some joy against the other players'. Everton kept it alive but it had been coming. You have to got to win your headers on set-pieces. Everton looked like scoring off every set piece and Liverpool wasn't aggressive enough in dealing with it."

Liverpool's players failed to deal with the initial ball into the box (Image: SkySportsPL)

Alexander-Arnold misses header

Trent Alexander-Arnold remains one of the most impressive passers of the ball in Europe. He showed his undoubted talents again at Goodison Park but didn't do enough defensively to stop the Everton opener.

The Liverpool full-back attempted to clear the ball on the edge of the box but completely mistimed his jump, seemingly awaiting contact from Vitaliy Mykolenko. It never came as Everton pumped the ball back in to keep the attack alive.

Konaté and Mac Allister make a hash of clearance

It was a comedy of errors after that as Jack Harrison teed up Ben Godfrey before his initial attempt was blocked. The ball the rebounded back off Jones towards Mac Allister, who lined up to clear his lines.

But under no pressure at all, Konaté stuck his left leg out and directed the ball into the path of Branthwaite. Ex-Reds defender Carragher was not impressed with the Frenchman's role in the goal, although it appeared there was no communication from Mac Allister.

He added: "What is he doing? He doesn't know where he is and sticks a leg out at it. He has been so poor of late. Liverpool needs to buy a centre-back in the summer."

Alisson can't keep out effort

The Liverpool goalkeeper will certainly not be blamed for the Everton opener but he may look back and think he could have done more. Branthwaite had the goal gaping but fired his shot straight at Alisson.

The Brazilian did manage to make good contact with the save but was diving across to his right, and the ball squirmed underneath him. Calvert-Lewin made sure but replays showed the ball had crossed the line.

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Arne Slot is now the leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp and become the next Liverpool manager

Arne Slot is now the leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp and become the next Liverpool manager

Gary Neville has tipped Liverpool to avoid making the same mistakes as Manchester United and Arsenal with its next manager appointment. The Premier League rivals both suffered slumps after the departures of stalwarts Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

Liverpool faces a similar situation this summer with Jürgen Klopp bringing the curtain down on his Anfield tenure. But Neville believes the Reds are in a better position to that of his former club and Arsenal, when they made huge managerial changes.

Xabi Alonso was the early favorite for the job but opted to remain with Bayer Leverkusen, before Sporting CP's Rúben Amorim appeared to be next in line. But Arne Slot is the new clear frontrunner and the Daily Mail reports talks are progressing between Liverpool and Feyenoord.

READ MORE: How Liverpool could line up under Arne Slot with two transfer needs emerging

READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk offers verdict on Arne Slot becoming next Liverpool manager as 'talks underway'

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville commented on the Reds' search for a new boss, after Slot emerged as a leading candidate. Neville said: "He's a successful coach in Holland and I love Dutch coaches. Across history, they have some of the greatest coaches the game has ever produced.

"We don't know how it's going to go but the reality is we've seen the post Wenger at Arsenal has been difficult and the post Sir Alex Ferguson career at Manchester United has been difficult. Klopp is massive in Liverpool. They've got to try and get it right.

"What United and Arsenal had when they replaced those managers was quite a traditional, old-school approach where the manager ran the club. They didn't have the sporting director and recruitment. Liverpool have a better set-up, more depth and more modern structure. There is still an element of risk but it has to happen."

David Moyes and Unai Emery struggled at United and Arsenal respectively after replacing iconic managers. The pair have since proven themselves in the Premier League and elsewhere. Neville admits a different approach will be inevitable at Anfield.

He added: "Obviously there's a change going to Liverpool. Very different approach than Jürgen Klopp. I don't think they could ever appoint a manager that has the personality and character of Klopp. It's driven by Michael Edwards, he's got his way and now he's bringing in someone who he thinks going to take Liverpool forward."

Liverpool.com says: Neville is correct in his thinking. Liverpool put the the correct structure in place before it focused on the managerial hunt. With Edwards rejoining FSG and Richard Hughes appointed as sporting director, Liverpool has elite footballing brains making key decisions. They will hope to get this one right.

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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher watched on as the Reds lost 2-0 to Everton to put a severe dent in their Premier League title hopes

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher watched on as the Reds lost 2-0 to Everton to put a severe dent in their Premier League title hopes

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 hopes of winning the Premier League have taken a massive dent following defeat to Everton in the Merseyside Derby

Liverpool's hopes of winning the Premier League have taken a massive dent following defeat to Everton in the Merseyside Derby

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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Liverpool transfer news as a summer of change is on the horizon at Anfield with a new head coach at the forefront

Liverpool transfer news as a summer of change is on the horizon at Anfield with a new head coach at the forefront

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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Live updates as Liverpool continue their search for their next manager to replace Jurgen Klopp with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot the leading candidate for the role

Live updates as Liverpool continue their search for their next manager to replace Jurgen Klopp with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot the leading candidate for the role