Jurgen Klopp downbeat on Liverpool’s title hopes and claims top-four finish isn’t guaranteed

Jurgen Klopp is not optimistic about Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League title after a chastening 2-0 defeat away to Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night.

The Reds struggled to handle the physicality and directness of Everton for large spells at Goodison Park and thought they had conceded an early penalty when Alisson brought down Dominic Calvert-Lewin, though the decision was reversed by VAR due to an offside offence.

But the Toffees did get a breakthrough in the 27th minute, with Jarrad Branthwaite capitalising on some penalty-box pinball to fire a shot under Alisson, with the ball squirming over the line.

Liverpool’s pressure ramped up before and after half-time, but they fell two goals behind just before the hour-mark when Calvert-Lewin rose unmarked at the back post from a corner to head into the back of the net.