Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk questioned whether his teammates “really want to win the league” after their 2-0 defeat to Everton on Wednesday night left their Premier League title hopes hanging in the balance.
Goals either side of half-time from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were enough to seal Everton’s first Merseyside derby win at Goodison Park since 2010.
The defeat leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side second in table, three points behind league leaders Arsenal and a point clear of Manchester City, who play the first of their two games in hand against Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday.
Van Dijk said Liverpool “have no chance to win the title” if they fail to show more effort in their four remaining fixtures.
“I’m very disappointed, in so many ways,” he told Sky Sports.
“I think everyone needs to take a look in the mirror and look at their own performance if they really gave everything and if they really want to win the league.
“Obviously, we are still fighting and we have games after tonight but if we played overall like we did today — not winning challenges — then we have no chance to win the title.”
Liverpool are next in action against West Ham United on Saturday.
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: Everton 2 Liverpool 0 – Klopp’s first-ever Goodison defeat all but ends title dream
(Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
