By Alex Richards
For Jurgen Klopp, that is likely that.
On the back of Arsenal's 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea on Tuesday night, Liverpool really needed victory in the Merseyside derby to keep their hopes of handing the Kop boss a farewell title triumph. Instead, they were beaten up by Sean Dyche's belligerent Everton who were simply more up for the fight.
A raucous Goodison Park got behind its side from the outset and the Toffees responded. Dyche's men came out of the blocks fast, didn't let their visitors settle and set about claiming another three points to take them closer to safety with no shortage of purpose.
When Jarrad Branthwaite found the net in the 27th minute, it was richly deserved. The video assistant referee had already stepped in to overturn a penalty for the hosts - rightly, due to offside - but Everton didn't take a step back, instead they doubled down and continued to push.
Liverpool had their moments, a strong end to the first half their best period of the game, with Jordan Pickford called into action a couple of times, making a particularly fine stop to deny Luis Diaz.
But they didn't return from the half-time break with the same intensity and 13 minutes into the second half, Dwight McNeil's inswinging corner reached the far post, where Dominic Calvert-Lewin - in his best Everton performance for some time - leapt unmarked and powered his header into Alisson's net.
Liverpool would throw men forwards and created chances. They managed plenty of shots. Their xG was higher and they had more touches in the opposition penalty area than their hosts.
But they didn't deserve anything more than the defeat they suffered. The faces of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, substituted with just over five minutes of normal time to go, told the story as they sat down on the bench.
Their race, and Klopp's hopes for a final taste of silverware at Anfield on May 19, may just have gone up in smoke.
1. The early fight
Simply put, it was lost by Liverpool.
For the opening half hour, Everton were running harder, jumping higher and winning the 50-50s. And the 40-60s. Even the 30-70s.
While Jurgen Klopp was berating fourth official Simon Hooper on the touchline, his opposite number can only have been delighted with how his side imposed themselves on this game. They weren’t going to let Liverpool ease into it and dictate the tempo. They turned up the heat and Liverpool struggled to handle it. They were naive, weak and, given the amount of silly fouls they gave away in their own half, rather stupid.
Branthwaite’s opener rather summed it all up. The visitors didn’t deal with the first ball, were beaten to the second and third, Konate's sliced clearance was panicked, and while a sprawling Alisson did his best, he couldn’t keep it from going underneath him and squirming over the line.
2. Mr. Calvert-Lewin, nice to see you again
In a different universe, one where he hasn’t suffered numerous injury issues and remains at his 2020-21 best, Euro 2024 would see Dominic Calvert-Lewin as back up to Harry Kane.
Instead, he’s got just 12 goals in his last 63 Premier League appearances - across three seasons coming into tonight - and is nowhere near. But on this night, maybe he rediscovered a little something.
Everton’s early aggression and physicality was epitomised by their No.9. He rattled both Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, holding strong and standing firm, enjoying the physical battle, winning fouls and free-kicks, getting his side up the pitch and looking as sharp as he’s looked in his long time.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say they’ve been beat up,” declared Gary Neville on Sky Sports commentary. “But they’ve been ruffled. Harassed.”
That changed in the second half to: "He's beating Liverpool's centre-halves up. He's on fire."
Calvert-Lewin's goal was him at his best in the penalty area, a towering header after a prodigious leap at the far post.
Perhaps, indeed hopefully, after an almost cursed last two-and-a-half years, the 27-year-old is finally starting to trust his body again. If that’s indeed the case, and we start seeing this Calvert-Lewin on a more regular basis once more, it’ll be huge for Everton for the rest of this season and beyond.
3. Mo back, no bang
Klopp brought Mohamed Salah back into his attack, but the Egyptian hasn't been int the best form recently and that continued here.
Klopp stated after the second leg in Bergamo that he was “not concerned” by Salah’s recent form. That's despite only one goal from open play in his last seven games and a number of games where he just hasn't quite looked like himself.
He had chances here and had more shots in the game than anyone else on the field. However, too often they were scuffed, or wayward, and he couldn't produce the kind of clinical moment which has been a regular feature during his record-breaking time at Anfield.
For him, perhaps more than any other, a very disappointing night.
4. Tigerish Garner
The former Manchester United youngster has grown in importance in recent weeks for Everton and he again had a fine game here.
He uses the ball well, closes down opponents with vigour, puts his foot in and wins tackles and isn't bad with a dead ball either.
Too often this season Everton have lacked balance in midfield, but Garner and Idrissa Gueye have found a nice little partnership which both shields the defence diligently while has the ability to spring quick counters.
Garner was up for the battle against Liverpool's midfield trio and was the star pick in that area.
5. Klopp's final failure
Jurgen Klopp had never lost a Merseyside derby in the Premier League. He has now.
And with his unbeaten record at Goodison, a second Premier League title has likely gone too.
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