Liverpool lose at Everton to leave Premier League hopes in ruins

Defeat leaves Jurgen Klopp's men still three points adrift of leaders Arsenal and only one point in front of defending champions Manchester City, who have two games in hand. Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin took Everton eight points clear of the relegation zone.

The Toffees now look certain to extend their 70-year stay in the English top flight despite being deducted eight points on two charges of breaching financial rules. Klopp had never lost on his previous eight visits to Goodison but his final taste of the Merseyside derby was a bitter one. Hopes of a glorious goodbye for the German after a nearly nine-year reign that has transformed the club's fortunes are fading fast.

According to reports, Feyenoord boss Arne Slot is being lined up as Klopp's successor and the past few weeks have exposed weaknesses that need addressing in a huge summer for the Liverpool hierarchy. The Reds have won just one of their last four league games and have also bowed out of the FA Cup and Europa League in recent weeks. 

Klopp made six changes after resting a number of key players for Sunday's 3-1 win at Fulham but did not get the response he desired. Slow starts have been a recurring factor as Liverpool's quest for four trophies has unravelled.

Buoyed by their weekend win over Nottingham Forest to pull clear of the relegation zone, Everton are a side transformed from the one that went 13 Premier League games without a win between December and April. The home side thought they had a penalty when Calvert-Lewin was tripped by Alisson Becker but VAR intervened to save the visitors as the Everton striker was offside.

Alisson then clawed away a Calvert-Lewin header and Ben Godfrey nodded wide as Liverpool struggled to cope with