Everton vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Dominic Calvert-Lewin goals land title race blow in Merseyside derby

Branthwaite opened the scoring in the first half, tapping the ball in at the near post after Liverpool failed to clear.

After the break, Calvert-Lewin headed the ball powerfully into the back of the net, and his physical presence caused a problem for the Reds all night.

Van Dijk said: “It’s a combination of a lot of things that are not falling into place and obviously the last game I think the Fulham game was still an improvement but in so many ways we have to do much better.”

When asked if they were out-fought, he said: “yes, unnecessarily. These games are always a big fight and something that we shouldn’t have lost in my opinion but we did and now we have to pick ourselves up and be ready for the early kick off on Saturday.”

Van Dijk added: “I think you try to force things, and we did so many crosses where they could clear it quite easily. I still think in the first half we had clear-cut chances that we should have scored, but eventually we weren’t good enough.

“We start with a fight we all have to do much better and we can’t let things happen like tonight. We have to do much better in every sense and it’s a tough one.”

He added: “I wish I had a proper answer (for why it’s not working) we are in this situation because we have been very consistent throughout the whole season, even with all the injuries that we had, the players that came in did a job and the young players that came in did well and we were in a good position.

“I think everyone at the start of the season would never have been thinking that we would be competing for the title but I don’t care what everyone says at the start. We are here now and we have to do much better, and it starts with the fight, it starts with the will to win you challenges and be confident in scoring goals and that’s what we have been lacking a little bit.”

Virgil Van Dijk said to Sky Sports: “Listen, very disappointed in so many ways and I think everyone has something to look in the mirror and looking at their own performances and did they really give everything, and do they really want to win the league and obviously we are fighting and there are still games left after tonight, but if we play like we did overall in a game like today.

“And not really winning challenges and giving the ref an opportunity to give a free kick like he did many times then we have no chance to win the title and it’s a tough one and we have to do much better against a side that’s playing against relegation and it’s time to focus on the 12.30 kick off.”

Calvert-Lewin said to Sky Sports: “It (being Everton number 9) is everything, it’s what I’ve worked for, it’s where I wanted to be. I just see it as a great privilege, pressure is a privilege and I just think it’s a great thing to carry that and it’s nice when you work hard and you get the reward with a goal.

“It (scoring on derby nights) is extra-special isn’t it, local derby, I’ve been here long enough to know what it means to the fans, what it means to me, a great result given the circumstances.

“Where we are in the league we needed the three points, and gave everything out there tonight.”

Jordan Pickford spoke to Sky Sports after the final whistle: “This is my first time winning the derby at home, great atmosphere, great application from the lads and thoroughly deserved it, it was a massive win for club, for the rivalry and in the league as well and hard work pays off.”

Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: “This is the end of the title run for Liverpool.

“It almost feels like the end. They just have to make sure they finish the season strongly.

“They are not clinical enough in both boxes.”

Here are some photos of the second half: