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 half-time, Liverpool could and maybe should have scored. Almost inevitably, given his recent form, Darwin Nunez was culpable on one occasion, running on to a cute Mo Salah pass only to shoot against Jordan Pickford’s legs. It was a good save and Pickford did it again a minute before the interval, this time denying Luis Diaz from similar close range after Salah and Nunez had combined to set him up. On both occasions, however, Pickford probably shouldn’t have been given a chance and that was the case once again in first-half added time when Nunez laid a ball back to Salah 16 yards out and the Egyptian blazed wildly over. Everton were hanging on a little during the six extra minutes. Liverpool had found some more recognisable attacking threat. It had been an impressive first half performance from Dyche’s players, though. The only question was whether they could keep up that level of intensity. Liverpool had already received a let out when an Everton penalty was denied for an offside in the build-up The 21-year-old grabbed his third goal in a breakout Premier League campaign to send Goodison Park wild Darwin Nunez had a glorious opportunity to draw his side level with most of the goal gaping Jurgen Klopp was in near-constant dialogue with the fourth official in the first half following his side's poor start That did turn out to be an issue in the early stages of the second half. Liverpool pushed Everton back and the game felt different. The home team were no longer forcing the pace. Instead they were sitting in their own half soaking up pressure. Some things didn’t change, however. Liverpool still couldn’t take chances. Nor, when it really mattered, could they defend. Liverpool were the dominant force, for sure. They were creating overloads in wide areas. They were winning corners. Virgil van Dijk saw a header from one such delivery held by Pickford and then Andrew Robertson failed to make good contact after Alexis MacAllister chipped a nice pass over the top. And then, perhaps to the surprise of nobody, Everton scored their second goal. Dwight McNeil forced Alisson to touch a shot over from 25 yards and when the corner was delivered to the far post, Calvert-Lewin rose to head down and in. Who was marking Everton’s most dangerous player? Robertson was nearby and Van Dijk was in the vicinity also. But nobody was actually making life difficult for Calvert-Lewin and his finish was as comfortable as it was potentially decisive. Calvert-Lewin rose highest above the Liverpool defence to head past Alisson The Toffees moved eight points clear of Luton in 17th with only four Premier League games left to play Klopp has seen what looked to be a fairytale end to his time as Liverpool boss turn into a nightmare Sean Dyche claimed his third victory over Jurgen Klopp in his 15th meeting against the German Klopp responded by making three substitutions and one of them – Jarell Quansah for Konate – perhaps spoke volumes. Everton, meanwhile, tried to seal the game with a spell of pressure. Once again Liverpool were out of their comfort zone. With a little over 20 minutes of regular time to play, they needed three goals to save their season. They almost scored one, Diaz hitting the inside of the post. There was still time on the clock at that point. But in truth there was little sign of a great comeback. Evertonians will remember this night for years to come. By full-time a new ditty had entered the Everton song book. ‘You lost the league at Goodison Park’. It won’t be the last we hear of that one. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility