Everton 2-0 Liverpool: Reds' title hopes all but over after Toffees hand them shock derby defeat
\Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored in a thrilling 2-0 home win over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, which could spell the end of the visitors' fading Premier League title hopes.
Everton's first derby victory at Goodison Park in over 13 years prevented Liverpool from catching up with Arsenal at the top of the league table. With four games remaining, Jurgen Klopp's side trail Arsenal by three points (77).
Holders Manchester City remain in charge of their destiny with 73 points but two games in hand, while Everton's victory has them breathing easier, eight points above the relegation zone in 16th.
"Very disappointed in so many ways and I think everyone has to look in the mirror look at their own performances, did they give everything and do they really want to win the league?" Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said.
"Obviously there are still games after tonight, but if we play like we did tonight, we have no chance to win the title. It's a tough one and obviously we have to do much better against a side that is playing against relegation."
Everton were sharper from the start and won a penalty when Calvert-Lewin was tripped by Liverpool keeper Alisson, but it was overturned by the VAR for offside.
However, it wasn't long before Branthwaite shook the old stadium in the 27th minute when he took advantage of Liverpool's poor defending, slotting home from close range after the Reds failed to clear the ball several times.
Alisson was unable to get his hands on the ball as it rolled off the post and into the goal.
Branthwaite is the first Everton player to score against Liverpool since Demarai Grey in a 4-1 league home defeat in late 2021.
"We spoke about the desire and the energy of the team and the physical side of the game," Everton manager Sean Dyche said. "The lads did it on Sunday (2-0 win over Nottingham Forest) and they'll have to do it again. That's the challenge.
"Sunday was massive and now it was a massively important derby game."
Calvert-Lewin leapt to head home from a corner kick to double the Toffees' lead in the 58th minute, and while Liverpool has staged some masterful comebacks this season, Everton held firm to hand Klopp, who is leaving his position at the end of the season, his first defeat at Goodison in his final derby.
"It's extra special, isn't it? Local derby -- I've been here long enough to know what it means to the fans, what it means to me," Calvert-Lewin told Sky Sports. "Where we are in the league, we needed a massive three points and everything kind of came together tonight."
Liverpool kept Everton keeper Jordan Pickford busy in the dying minutes, as he leapt to bat Harvey Elliott's shot over the crossbar and then dived to save a shot from Reds talisman Mohamed Salah, while Everton manager Sean Dyche looked at his watch in frustration, desperate for the final whistle to sound.
When it finally happened, Everton fans serenaded the team off the pitch.
"Great atmosphere, thoroughly deserved it, was a massive win. Hard work pays off," Pickford told Sky.
While Liverpool won the League Cup earlier this season, the Premier League is the final trophy available to the Reds after being eliminated from the FA Cup and Europa League.
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