Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has issued an apology to the Reds' supporters following their Merseyside derby loss at Everton, a result that severely dents their already slim Premier League title aspirations.

Klopp's latest trip to Goodison Park concluded in his first defeat at the venue, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting the goals that have left Liverpool's chances of catching up with Arsenal and Manchester City looking bleak. The Reds are now three points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, with a significantly worse goal difference, and although they sit a point above City, Pep Guardiola's side have two games in hand.

"I can only apologise for today to the people. It is very disappointing. We played the game Everton wanted and they scored two goals from set-pieces. We should have done better but we didn't," Klopp said.

"No good thoughts at all. Very disappointed and frustrated. It was not good enough.

"It was not the most inspired performance of all time, I really feel for the people. We never lost here (it was Everton's first Goodison derby win in almost 14 years) and it feels really different. I really apologise for that."

On the title race, Klopp admitted Liverpool now need things to go drastically wrong at Arsenal and City. He said: "I can't say now that we are still fully in it; we need a crisis at Man City and Arsenal and need to win football games because if they start losing all their games and we do what we did tonight nothing changes."

"We are not safe in the Champions League as well so we should just play better football. It is not a problem of attitude or what the boys want. No one is doing that on purpose.

"It is my job to bring them into a situation where they feel confident to do that. That part I am responsible and I am responsible for what happened tonight."

"It is not that I feel great, that is the most tricky part of football obviously. In the moment it didn't work out and we have to keep trying."

A triumph for Everton lent them an eight-point buffer over 18th-ranked Luton, whom they still have yet to face, thus all but cementing their Premier League status. "Pleased obviously, delighted with the performance against a top side, delighted for the Evertonians and the old-school Toffees," said manager Sean Dyche.

"They were terrific. Terrific on Sunday. I am pleased for the club, only the second win in 30 (derbies) I am told."

"I think the game was won in the tactical delivery of the team. The performance and level of the performance was top notch. I want to play beautiful football but I want to play winning football first.

"This is not as satisfying as the final game of last season (when they escaped relegation with a victory over Bournemouth) but it is satisfying to give something back. It is a different kind of satisfaction, believe me."

You can find this story in   My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.