This is supposed to be Jurgen Klopp’s final season as Liverpool manager, yet judging by the performances, the team aren’t showing it.
If the German had beaten Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night, then he would have been the most successful Liverpool manager in this fixture.
Yet, his final derby day ended in a 2-0 defeat, as Sean Dyche’s Everton bullied and battered their neighbours.
This is supposed to be a Premier League title-chasing side locking horns with a team above the relegation zone.
Yet, you wouldn’t have thought that at Goodison Park, as Liverpool suffered a costly defeat that has probably all but ended their title hopes.
In truth, the team only have themselves to blame and the manner of defending throughout the match was proof of that.
Michael Owen wasn’t best pleased with how the Reds dealt with the opener, which was scrambled home by Jarrad Branthwaite like this was some sort of Sunday League game.
The man he highlighted was Trent Alexander-Arnold and how he ‘couldn’t understand’ the player’s positioning when setting up for a defensive free-kick and then not wanting to head the ball, as he told Premier League Productions (24/04/24 at 8:55 pm).
You would have expected some sort of reaction from the away team, but it didn’t arrive.
In the second half, Klopp watched his side showcase their weakness again from a dead-ball situation when Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed home from a corner.
All in all, it was a night and another game to forget for Liverpool.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defending
“It’s a horrible goal from Liverpool’s point of view,” said Owen about Everton’s opening goal.
“I think Trent Alexander-Arnold will look at some of his great moments probably at the end of the game.
“I just don’t understand why he isn’t in a back four position here. He is almost, well, he didn’t want to win that header. He thought he was going to get clattered. We see that he is just onside. I think Konate is playing everyone onside. There are a lot of miskicks. Lots of a ricochets. Konate with the last one and then the ball dribbles over the line. It was a scruffy goal.”
Liverpool players need to take the blame
Don’t look towards Klopp here. The players need to take the blame and the responsibility for once again producing an abject display.
The attackers played like they have never played together or scored a goal because they missed big chances once more.
Whilst the defending lacked again. It’s a shame Klopp’s final season has had to end like this because he doesn’t deserve it.
There is talk that Arne Slot could be the next Liverpool manager, well, if he is, then he won’t like what he saw in the Merseyside derby, that’s for sure!
