The 2023-24 Premier League title race has been one of the very best in history, and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp knows his team has slipped behind Manchester City and Arsenal following a Merseyside derby loss at Everton on Wednesday.
There’s nothing left but to win and hope against hope for big slip-ups from Arsenal and Manchester City. Arsenal have 77 points, three more than Liverpool, and Man City’s 73 points come with two matches-in-hand on both.
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Few expected Liverpool to be in the title race at the start of the season, but Klopp knows has dropped two points to a substandard Manchester United and then three versus Crystal Palace to lose control of their own destiny. A win over Fulham last time out was nice, but this loss at Everton stings deeply.
Aside from their title aspirations, Liverpool have won the League Cup, but are now out of the Europa League thanks to Atalanta. They also got knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United in demoralizing fashion in extra time.
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With the shock news that Klopp is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, there is extra focus on everything Liverpool do and their players seem determined to send him off in style.
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Jurgen Klopp reaction: “Maybe if we can keep it as exciting then in the end fortune is maybe then on our side.”
“I’m very disappointed,” Klopp said after the loss to Everton, via the BBC. “We let it happen exactly the way that Everton wanted. Two goals from set pieces. They are really strong. We created a lot and didn’t score. We were in a rush, not really clear enough. They scored the second goal with the routine they do all season. They had free kick after free kick, but we weren’t good enough.”
He further expressed remorse for his team’s display.
“I can only apologize for today to the [fans],” Klopp said. “We should have done better and we didn’t and that’s why we lost.”
Klopp knows he’ll need Everton in the long run, too, as the Toffees meet Arsenal later this season. And he’s also telling his team that they could still fall behind Villa and Spurs in the top-four race, though that’s a stretch big enough to ruin any yoga pants. Liverpool have 74 points and max out with 86. Villa have 66 and can still get 78. Spurs have 60 and max at 78.
“I don’t know about Everton’s achievement, I thought they would be safe after that but Sean Dyche knows them better,” Klopp said. “Arsenal didn’t look very weak last night. We have to play better, that is it. We need points. We are not safe in the Champions League. Tottenham have played a lot of games less than us.”
Liverpool have been here before, but there’s now zero room for error
Liverpool have been here before with Manchester City.
But this time two teams have been pushing City all the way and Liverpool loved its chances/ Out of the two contenders to knock City off their throne, Liverpool have the most experience and seemed the most likely to hang in there given their remaining schedule.
Add in the fact that Klopp is leaving at the end of the season and there was and is an extra spark about this side and extra motivation to win big again, one last time, for the German coach.
Now that injuries have calmed down, Liverpool still have a chance of hanging in there. Can their defensive unit stay solid enough to let them hang in there with City and Arsenal as they look to make the most of their kind fixture list? There is zero room for error left on their fixture list of West Ham, Spurs, Villa, and Wolves — not an easy one in the bunch.
Their draws home and away against Manchester City told us that Liverpool are more resilient than we thought and they have what it takes to once again go toe-to-toe with City, and Arsenal, for the title.
Liverpool’s defeat at Arsenal in early 2024 and recent draw at Manchester United and defeat at home to Crystal Palace told us to hold back a little and maybe they aren’t totally ready for another title charge again. But the way they’ve responded time and time again, with all of these injuries, proved their character.
They may come up short but once again they’re in the title race. That is real progress this season. Even if Klopp doesn’t get the fairytale ending many feel he deserves, he is leaving Liverpool in a really good place.