Everton reduces championship chances
Klopp and Liverpool suffer a bitter defeat in the derby
April 24, 2024, 10:59 p.m
Liverpool FC actually has to win every game in order to prevail in the final spurt of the Premier League. In the Merseyside derby at Everton FC, Jürgen Klopp’s team suffered a deserved defeat. The championship is now unlikely to be achieved.
Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool FC have made a decisive mistake in the English Premier League title race. The German team manager’s team lost the 244th Merseyside derby at city rivals Everton FC after a weak defensive performance 0:2 (0:1). Four match days before the end of the season, the gap to leaders Arsenal FC is three points, and defending champions Manchester can overtake them on Thursday.
For Klopp it was his first defeat at Goodison Park as Liverpool boss. In the 56-year-old’s fifth-to-last league game, Jarrad Branthwaite (27th) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (58th) secured victory for the relegation-threatened hosts. Liverpool pushed for an equalizer after going behind early, but the second goal seemed like a low blow. Only one win from the last four league games probably means the end of the title dreams of the Reds, who were also recently eliminated from the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Manchester United avoided a setback against a basement child: The Red Devils were temporarily behind 0-1 and 1-2 against bottom-placed Sheffield United, but secured a 4-2 (1-1) win in the final minutes. Jayden Bogle gave the underdogs the lead in the 35th minute, Harry Maguire’s equalizer (42′) only lasted briefly – immediately after the break, Brereton Diaz (50′) shot Sheffield back in front. Bruno Fernandes then turned the game around by first scoring with a penalty kick (61′) and then making it 3-2 with a dream goal (81′). The Portuguese also prepared the goal for the final score by Rasmus Höjlund (85th). For Sheffield, the defeat at Old Trafford also meant relegation from the Premier League: the promoted team is 14 points behind the saving bank with four remaining games.
Coach Oliver Glasner celebrated their third win in a row with Crystal Palace. After the 2-0 (0-0) win against Newcastle United, staying in the league is also mathematically perfect. Meanwhile, there was a goal record for the Premier League on Wednesday: Although there are still 45 games to be played, the league broke the record of 1,084 goals in a season that was set last year.