Jurgen Klopp apologized to Liverpool fans after their tough derby defeat to Everton, as he admitted his team needed a “crisis” at Arsenal and Manchester City to have any hope of winning the title.
Liverpool were beaten at Goodison Park for the first time in nearly 14 years, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin punishing some appalling defence.
This leaves Klopp's side three points behind leaders Arsenal, who are superior on goal difference, with just four games left to play. Third-placed City is one point behind Liverpool and has two matches in hand.
“I really feel for the people. I'm really sorry about that,” Klopp said.
“People have often told me what a great record we have in the derby. We've never lost here before and it feels really different. I'm really apologetic about that. It wasn't necessary but it happened.
“I don't have any good ideas at all. Very frustrated and disappointed. It wasn't good enough. We let the game go the way Everton wanted it to go. They scored two goals from set pieces.
“The first time we somehow defended three times but in the end we put it on a plate, Branthwaite didn't kick the ball properly but it rolled over the goal line. After that we had our best spell, put them under pressure, created big chances but didn't score.
“Every situation we missed gave Everton more momentum. We never had that and that didn't help. The second half wasn't good enough without a real pressing phase like at the end of the first half.
“Then we conceded a second goal and I think all the Everton players have already seen that goal 20 times. Everyone knows their routine, they put the ball there, but it was completely free. I didn't see it again but I'm sure we could have defended it better. It wasn't the most impressive performance Absolutely inspiring.
Klopp speaks with Darwin Nunez, who missed a golden goal-scoring opportunity for Liverpool (Photo by James Gill – Dinehouse/Getty Images)
Asked about his thoughts on the title race, Klopp added: “I understand that, but you can all read the table. Am I saying now that we are still at full speed?”
“We need a crisis at City and Arsenal and we need to win football games. If they start losing all their games and we do what we did tonight nothing will change and we won't be safe in the Champions League either.
“We just have to play better football. You can see we are in a hurry in front of goal. You can't act like you've scored 15 goals in the last two games. You have to fight during these periods.
“People ask me about mentality but it has different aspects. It's not an issue of behavior or whether the boys want it. Nobody does something like that on purpose. It's my job to put them in a position where they feel confident to do it. That's the most difficult part of football.” “I am responsible. At this moment it did not work. We have to keep trying.”
Klopp must now raise the level of his players as Liverpool return to action on Saturday in their lunch match against West Ham.
“We have to recover because a rapid transformation awaits us,” he said.
“It will be a challenge mentally and physically. West Ham may be waiting, wringing their hands and hoping we get there with one leg, but I will do my best to make sure we are more there.
“I'd rather sit here and win 4-0 and fly. The job is to win football games, and the more you win, the more successful you are, and at the moment we haven't won enough to get anything out of the season so far. We'd better start winning.”
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Summary: Everton 2 Liverpool 0 – Klopp's first ever defeat at Goodison ends the title dream
(Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)