Everton move closer to safety and dent Liverpool's title hopes
The blues are celebrating their first Merseyside derby victory at Goodison Park since 2010
Liverpool's Premier League title bid has suffered a setback, after Everton won a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park for the first time in almost 14 years.
In doing so Sean Dyche's side, 2-0 victors courtesy of goals in either half from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, virtually assured their own top-flight future after moving eight points clear of 18th-placed Luton with four matches to go.
Jurgen Klopp's last Merseyside derby saw his first defeat across Stanley Park after two wins and five draws previously came less than a week after they were knocked out of the Europa League by Atalanta.
The club have moved on his successor - Feyenoord's Arne Slot - by opening negotiations with the Eredivisie club but this would not have made for a happy watch from his Netherlands home.
Arsenal are now three points ahead of Liverpool with a superior goal difference - with Manchester City - a point behind with two matches in hand.
A third successive home league win for the first time since September 2021 means Everton can breathe easier at the other end of the table.
They set about dominating the visitors physically and centre-back Ibrahima Konate, in particular, struggled against Calvert-Lewin, who was only passed fit a couple of hours before kick-off.
The hosts' positive approach seemed to have paid off after just six minutes when Calvert-Lewin was brought down by Alisson Becker after nicking Jack Harrison's outside-of-the-boot pass past him but the penalty was rescinded after VAR ruled the striker was offside.
Everton's first goal came in the 27th minute when Branthwaite forced the ball under Alisson and in off the post after Liverpool failed to clear a free-kick.
Liverpool faded after the break after Virgil van Dijk headed straight at Pickford and when McNeil's long-range shot was tipped over, Calvert-Lewin rose unchallenged at the far post to nod home the resulting corner.
Branthwaite could have added further embarrassment but headed wide while the closest Liverpool came to a response was when Diaz's curling shot rebounded off the post and they played out the final minutes with 'you lost the league at Goodison Park' ringing around the ground.