04/24/24 05:38:00
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04/24 17:36 CDT Liverpool's Premier League title hopes hit by 2-0 loss to
Everton. Man United survives another scare
Liverpool's Premier League title hopes hit by 2-0 loss to Everton. Man United
survives another scare
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) --- Jurgen Klopp's hopes of a dream send-off were left
in tatters after a 2-0 loss at Everton dealt a major blow to Liverpool's
Premier League title bid on Wednesday.
Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Goodison Park meant
Klopp tasted a bitter defeat in his last Merseyside derby before standing down
at the end of the season.
"I can only apologize for today to the people. We should have done better and
we didn't and that's why we lost," Klopp said.
The loss keeps Liverpool three points behind league leader Arsenal in second
place and one ahead of defending champion Manchester City, which is in third
and has two games in hand on both of its rivals.
Klopp had spoken last week of needing perfection to win his second title at the
club. But this was the latest setback for his team, which has lost two of its
last three games in the league.
While the result hurt Liverpool's title chances, it delivered a boost to
Everton's survival bid, with the win moving Sean Dyche's team eight points
above the relegation zone.
That fact seemed to be of less concern to the home fans, who were too busy
reveling in the damage caused to Liverpool's season.
"You lost the league at Goodison Park," they chanted as the final whistle
approached and the majority of the 39,000 crowd remained inside the stadium to
drink in the atmosphere as the players celebrated on the field.
"I'm very disappointed. We let it happen exactly the game that Everton wanted,"
Klopp said.
Klopp had dominated this fixture since taking over at Anfield in 2015, winning
nine of the past 16 derbies before Wednesday's match.
Statistics showed Everton won 75% of all duels in the opening half hour, a
league record for any top flight team this season.
After just six minutes, Liverpool was grateful for VAR as it escaped an early
penalty when Alisson brought down Calvert-Lewin in the box and referee Andrew
Madley pointed to the spot. The decision was overturned because of an offside
in the build up.
That pressure was made to count when Everton took the lead in in the 27th.
Liverpool's defenders repeatedly failed to clear the danger from a free kick
and Branthwaite's shot squirmed through the hands of Alisson and off the post
before crossing the line.
Again there was an agonizing wait for a VAR check, but on this occasion there
was no reprieve for Liverpool.
Luis Diaz had the chance to level before the break, but was denied by the legs
of Jordan Pickford from close range.
Liverpool came out with more intent for the second half without forcing
Pickford into serious action before conceding a second goal.
Again the visitors failed to deal with a set piece when Dwight McNeil swung a
deep corner to the far post and Calvert-Lewin rose unmarked to head home.
Liverpool came close to pulling one back in the 69th, but Diaz's effort came
back off the post.
UNITED SCARE
Manchester United survived another scare --- twice coming from behind to beat
last-place Sheffield United 4-2.
Having been taken to the wire by second-tier Coventry in the FA Cup semifinals
on Sunday, Erik ten Hag's team looked in danger of dropping points in its bid
qualify for Europe.
Sheffield United led 1-0 and then 2-1 through goals from Jayden Bogle and Ben
Brereton Diaz in each half at Old Trafford. But Harry Maguire and Bruno
Fernandes from the penalty spot leveled on each occasion.
Fernandes put United ahead in the 81st and and Rasmus Hojlund sealed the points
four minutes later.
United is up to sixth in the standings, 13 points behind fourth-place Aston
Villa.
PALACE SAFE
Crystal Palace ensured top flight safety after Jean-Philippe Mateta struck
twice in a 2-0 win against Newcastle.
Palace is on 39 points --- 14 clear of 18th-place Luton, which can only pick up
a maximum of 37 if it wins its last four games of the season.
It was Palace's third-straight win to erase fears of being relegated. Defeat
saw Newcastle drop to seventh.
Bournemouth beat Wolves 1-0 at Molineux through Antoine Semenyo's first-half
strike.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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