Paul Merson's two Liverpool title verdicts speak volumes after Everton defeat

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has slammed Liverpool after their defeat to Everton in the Premier League.

The Reds struggled to gain any form of authority on proceedings and were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Alisson Becker hauled down Dominic Calvert-Lewin only for VAR to overturn the decision for offside. The Blues would go in at the break in front though as pinball in the Liverpool area resulted in Jarrad Branthwaite steering a strike in.

Mohamed Salah missed a golden opportunity to equalise just before the break and would be punished in the second half. Calvert-Lewin's bullet header from a corner doubled the Toffees' advantage and would ultimately secure the bragging rights.

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The result leaves Liverpool three points behind leaders Arsenal but that gap could grow to five points if Manchester City win both their games in hand over Jurgen Klopp's side. One interested onlooker was Sky Sports pundit Merson who provided two verdicts of the game on social media.

After Everton scored in the first half, Merson wrote: "Liverpool title hopes slipping away." However, this sentiment became harsher in the second half as the Blues grabbed a deserved second.

He then tweeted: "Liverpool have threw in the towel." The Reds' title hopes are certainly slim considering the return to form of the Gunners and Pep Guardiola's men's imperious form.

Klopp's side have four matches remaining this season, the first of which shall come on Saturday when they travel to West Ham in the early kick off.