Being knocked out of the Champions League by PSG prior to the March break for internationals was a big blow. However, with the PL now their only concern, it is just about impossible to see the Reds blowing the huge lead they have at the summit of the table. They have wobbled a little bit of late but have managed to eke out results, and with the chasing pack unable to mount a serious challenge, the trophy is destined to end up with Arne Slot’s side.
Given their very strong home record over Everton in the Premier League, it seems a little strange that the latest clash was being suggested as a potential banana skin. However, David Moyes has done a brilliant job since returning to the Blues and they headed into the derby on a run of nine unbeaten in the PL. They didn’t make it to 10 though, as a Diogo Jota goal was enough to give the Reds the win and take them three points closer to the title.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton: Calm Compared to Last Time but Still Controversy
UP THE REDS!!!!! 👊🔴 #LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/iT7NkYjeVf
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 2, 2025
The Merseyside derby is always a huge clash but this one did not have an awful lot riding on it in truth. Much as the win was a big result for the Reds, even if they had lost, the title would surely have been theirs anyway. As for the Toffees, their excellent results under Moyes – although prior to this clash they had drawn four PL matches on the bounce – meant that they are virtually guaranteed to be playing top-flight football in their shiny new stadium next term. It is likely that even if Moyes’ men lose their final eight games, the 34 points they already have will prove far too many for the truly woeful bottom three.
The opening exchanges reflected the fact that neither side came into the game with a desperate need to win. Moreover, given quite how dramatic the last meeting between the pair was, this clash was always going to be a little bit of an anti-climax.
That said, we only had to wait 11 minutes for the first massive moment, with Everton’s hero from their 2-2 draw at home against Liverpool, James Tarkowski, rather lucky to stay on the pitch. He thundered into a tackle against Alexis Mac Allister and though he took the ball, his follow-through caught the Liverpool man high on his calf. The ref gave a yellow and whilst VAR checked that, the on-field ref’s decision stood – to the surprise of many.
After 20 minutes Everton thought they had the lead when Beto did very well to get the better of Virgil van Dijk before poking home through the keeper’s legs. The striker was a fraction offside, with VAR undeniably making the right call this time. After 33 minutes the Portuguese attacker again did well and again the normally imperious Van Dijk was at fault. Beto was through but his effort from the edge of the box struck the post.
Liverpool continued to control the ball but Everton looked more dangerous on the counter but neither side could find a way through. In the second half Liverpool gained a greater degree of control and the Blues offered far less on the break. Slot’s side were struggling to find a way past as the away side defended very well but they were eventually undone by Jota.
Luis Diaz was clearly offside in the build-up and despite the ball being passed for him, he was deemed not to have interfered with play. When Tarkowski’s clearance fell to Jota, the Portuguese did very well to jink past a couple of men and slot home. Liverpool would hold onto their lead with relative ease in a game where there were just three shots on target.
Reds in Commanding Position
The day before this clash Bukayo Saka, returning from injury, scored for Arsenal to help them to a 2-1 home win over Fulham. That took Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table down to a mere nine points, for just over 24 hours. Jota’s decisive goal meant the Reds restored their 12-point cushion and with just eight games remaining it is not all that long before Slot’s side will be able to claim the title.
Liverpool’s remaining fixtures are as follows, with Fulham next up on the 6th of April:
- Fulham away
- West Ham at home
- Leicester away
- Spurs at home
- Chelsea away
- Arsenal at home
- Brighton away
- Palace at home
They clearly have some tough fixtures left but given they have lost just once all season they go into every game they play thinking that a win is the most likely result. Liverpool currently have 73 points, with Arsenal on 61 and the season’s surprise package, Forest, on 57. The best the Gunners can now do, assuming they manage to win their eight remaining games, is 85 points.
That means that as things stand Liverpool need 13 more points to make absolutely sure of the title. Their goal difference is currently 13 superior but that could easily be overcome, especially if the Gunners were to win at Anfield, as they would have to. So four wins and a draw in their next five games would see Slot’s men lift the title at Stamford Bridge, with three games to go.
Of course, that assumes that Mikel Arteta’s men win all of their games and with their mounting injury issues that seems unlikely, to say the least. As such, we predict that the Kop outfit will lift the title either against Leicester or Spurs. Predicting when they claim the Premier League trophy is not easy but predicting that they will certainly is.
Some bookies have already paid out on them doing so, whilst betting sites that are still taking bets offer odds of just 1/33, or even as low as 1/150. That means that even punters shopping around would have to risk £33 in order to win £1, which tells you that this title race is just about run.