sport news Liverpool's title chances were washed away on a blue tide of desire. The timing ... trends now
The only consolation for Jurgen Klopp was that he didn’t have far to go home. Safe at home by the water in Formby to reflect on the night his final great title challenge in English football was washed away on a blue tide of desire and yearning.
Is this really it for Klopp and Liverpool? You would have to think so. The statistics tell their own story. Four points from their last four league games has left them needing miracles that don’t tend to happen when Manchester City are involved.
With Arsenal driven by renewed ferver also, there surely is no way back for the third horse in the race. So it seems that Klopp will leave Anfield with honour next month but not swaddled in glory. There were four trophies on the go at one stage. It seems he will leave this time with just one, the Carabao Cup.
And what a place for the house to finally fall down. Goodison Park, of all places. Klopp had not lost here before and the timing of this defeat could not have been worse.
Everton were at it all night. Energetic, determined and full of running. Sean Dyche’s team played some good football too. Liverpool enjoyed an awful lot of possession – don’t they always? – but Everton were better in both penalty areas and as such deserved everything they took from this night.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubled the advantage for the home side in the 58th minute of the clash
Jarrad Branthwaite gave Everton a richly-deserved lead after 27 minutes of a frenetic Merseyside derby
Liverpool missed the chance to draw level with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League
Denied an early penalty by a VAR offside call, Everton nevertheless took the lead in the first half through young central defender Jarrad Branthwaite. Liverpool created and missed chances.
Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah two culprits as Liverpool pushed for parity. Then, with the night still in the balance just before the hour, Dominic Calvert-Lewin rose at a far post corner to head down and in with no Liverpool player anywhere near him.
Twenty minutes later, however, even the VAR officials were not to deny the home town. They did have a look once again, this time at Branthwaite’s positioning as a hopeful ball was lifted over the top.
But he was just the right side of the line and as such his goal – that came after Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate deflected a loose ball in to his path – was allowed to stand.
Everton deserved the lead at that stage. By then they had already come close through Abdoulaye Doucoure, who shot wide from close range, and Calvert-Lewin, whose header was pawed away by Alisson.
Everton defender Ben Godfrey had also headed a good chance wide at the far post.
The home team were impressive while the visitor were not. Liverpool carried a threat when they went forward but lacked composure and real cohesion. Then when they did discover some fluency and start to create chances, they couldn’t take them.
Three times in the ten minutes immediately before
