Defeat in the derby, title probably gone
Klopp’s potential champion knockout “feels really dirty”
April 25, 2024, 7:48 a.m
Are all title dreams gone? Jürgen Klopp is frustrated after the derby defeat against Everton FC. His FC Liverpool is probably wasting all chances of winning the English championship. He is tough on his players.
Jürgen Klopp sees Liverpool FC’s chances of winning the title having fallen to a minimum after the derby defeat against Everton FC. “We definitely don’t have it in our own hands anymore. Now Arsenal and Manchester City need a crisis,” said the team manager on Sky when asked whether Liverpool can still win the Premiere League. Four match days before the end of the season, the gap to leaders FC Arsenal is three points, and defending champions City can overtake them in the evening. The Skyblues have still played two fewer games than the competition.
For the Reds it is now about securing fourth place. “We still need points to definitely be in the Champions League. We should take care of that too,” said Klopp after the 2-0 defeat in the city duel.
For Klopp it was his first defeat at Goodison Park as Liverpool boss. In the 244th Merseyside derby, Jarrad Branthwaite (27th) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (58th) ensured victory for the relegation-threatened hosts. “After the 0-1 we put them under a lot of pressure, so we actually had to score. But we didn’t. That feels really dirty, very frustrating. But you also have to say: that wasn’t good enough,” he said Klopp. “We have to look in the mirror and be very critical of ourselves. Our counter-pressing was terrible.” Referring to the name of the English second division, he said: “I don’t think a Championship team would have played like we did.”
Captain Virgil van Dijk was also completely served. “Everyone has to look in the mirror and ask themselves whether they have really given everything and really want to win the league,” he said on Sky Sports: “If we play like we did today, we have no chance of seeing ourselves as title contenders. “