Liverpool fans had high hopes of sending Jürgen Klopp off with a historic quadruple of trophies this season. However, it now seems more likely that the revered German manager will end his final season in charge with just the League Cup win.
Liverpool suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Everton on Wednesday. This loss in the final Merseyside derby of Klopp's time as manager has essentially dashed their hopes of clinching a second Premier League title under his leadership.
During the match, Everton relentlessly attacked Liverpool's goal, especially capitalizing on set pieces. Jarrad Branthwaite scored the opening goal from a long free-kick into the box, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubled the Toffees' lead with a header from a corner in the second half.
Liverpool experienced their first derby defeat at Goodison Park in 14 years. The home fans didn't hold back in celebrating, taunting with the chant, "You lost the league at Goodison Park."
Liverpool's defeat has left them in second place, trailing Arsenal by three points and leading Manchester City by just one point, although Pep Guardiola's team has two games in hand.
Klopp expressed his disappointment after the game, stating, "We are obviously very disappointed. In many aspects, we played right into Everton's game plan. Their strength in set pieces showed with two goals."
Klopp will now likely end his final season in charge with just the League Cup.
Klopp will now likely end his final season in charge with just the League Cup.
We missed scoring opportunities in the first half but created many chances. However, we were in a hurry and lacked clarity in the second half. Unfortunately, we conceded a goal from a routine that the opposition has been successful with all season.
We were aware that the ball would end up in that specific spot, but unfortunately, our defense was not strong enough. They were awarded multiple free kicks, and we were simply not up to par. It's important for us to acknowledge that we were not at our best during that match. It was definitely not our finest moment.
Liverpool faced another setback on Wednesday when they were defeated by Darwin Núñez's missed opportunities and Mo Salah's struggling form. This defeat adds to their recent exits from the Europa League and FA Cup.
Klopp emphasized the importance of pushing through tough times and regaining momentum during challenging moments in football games.
He acknowledged that despite their efforts, the team fell short. Whether they win or lose, Klopp pointed out that there are always reasons behind the outcome, highlighting the need to strive for better results.
There have been times when we had opportunities to score against Everton's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford or kick the ball into the goal, giving us a chance to change the game. However, if we fail to take advantage of these moments, it becomes challenging.
When asked if he thought Liverpool was still in the running for the title, Klopp admitted he was unsure.
Everton celebrated a first derby victory at Goodison Park in 14 years.
Everton celebrated a first derby victory at Goodison Park in 14 years.
"I want to apologize to everyone today," he stated. "Those of us here understand how tough this loss is, but I know it's even harder for the fans."
Liverpool is said to be making plans for the future after Klopp and has started discussions with Dutch team Feyernoord about potentially bringing in Arne Slot as the new manager, as per reports from British media.
Slot, known for nurturing young talents and playing an exciting style of football, led Feyenoord to victory in the Dutch league last season and the Dutch Cup this year. He also steered the team to the final of the 2022 Conference League.
Editor's P/S:
Liverpool's hopes of a historic quadruple have been dashed following their shock defeat to Everton in the Merseyside derby. The loss has left them trailing Arsenal in the Premier League title race and facing an uphill battle to secure a second league triumph under Jürgen Klopp. The German manager has overseen a period of unprecedented success at Anfield, but it now seems likely that he will depart with just the League Cup to his name this season.
Klopp's decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the campaign has already been announced, and the club is reportedly in talks with Feyenoord manager Arne Slot as a potential successor. Slot is highly regarded for his work with young players and his commitment to an attacking style of play. If he does join Liverpool, he will inherit a squad that is still capable of competing for major honors. However, the team will need to rediscover their form and find consistency if they are to challenge for the Premier League title next season.