Everton 2-0 Liverpool
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park
“YOU lost the league at Goodison Park,” sang the Everton fans, and in his post-match press conference, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp all but agreed.
But while it was a disappointing result for Liverpool in isolation, in truth, they lost the league through a string of poor performances in recent weeks.
It was not helped by a demoralising Europa League exit to Atalanta which ended another chance one of the four trophies they were aiming for this season.
Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by another local rival, Manchester United, at the quarterfinals stage, then only managing a draw with the same opponent in the league, the chips were down.
A defeat to Crystal Palace knocked Liverpool further off the top, and a win at Fulham was ultimately fruitless given the disappointing results either side of it.
But despite numerous results and several factors contributing to this late-season collapse, the importance of local rivalry and the additional emotion will mark the loss to Everton as a key moment.
"I can't say now that we are still fully in [the title race],” said Klopp after the game.
“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 changes.
"We are not safely in the Champions League [next season] as well, so we should just play better football.”
For the Everton fans, it was a moment to celebrate in a season where things to celebrate have been few and far between.
Preventing their local rivals from continuing their title challenge, and securing three priceless points in their quest for Premier League survival, was celebrated wildly.
The old stadium was rocking — literally moving beneath the feet of those in attendance as the goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin went in and again as the final whistle blew.
Fans were dancing in the aisles and over seats to the post-match playlist, which, as well as the usual Everton signatures, included Green Day’s “Welcome To Paradise” after Everton manager Sean Dyche revealed himself a fan of the American punk rockers earlier in the week, and “I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues” by Elton John as the remaining fans filtered out.
After the final whistle, Everton fans remained on the streets and filled local pubs until last orders, savouring the win.
“It’s satisfying for the people, I mean it sincerely,” said Everton manager Sean Dyche when asked if it was his most satisfying win as Everton manager.
“It’s about the people who grew up Evertonians, the new Evertonians, the people who work at the club. It’s satisfying in that way, to give something back.”
Everton are now eight points clear of the relegation zone with four games to go.
At the other end of the table, Liverpool look unlikely to take the title race to the wire, and it will be left to Man City and Arsenal to fight it out.
