Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp apologized to fans after a 2-0 loss to Everton in the Merseyside derby that all but extinguished their faint hopes of winning the English Premier League title on his farewell season with the club.
Leaders Arsenal and Manchester City "must have a very bad moment," Klopp - who looked completely shattered - said when asked about his team's chances.
"I don't know. I can only apologize ... Everybody who's with us knows how hard this was for us as well. We should have done better but we didn't."
Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored in a 2-0 victory that will not soon be forgotten by the Everton faithful, who serenaded the visitors with "You lost the league at Goodison Park" after the final whistle.
It was the Toffees' first home derby win in more than 13 years and prevented Liverpool from climbing level with Arsenal at the top of the league table.
Klopp's men are three points behind the Gunners (77) with four games remaining in the much-loved manager's tenure with the team. Holders City remain in the driver's seat on 73 points with two games in hand.
"Obviously very disappointed with a lot of things," Klopp said. "We let it happen exactly the way that Everton wanted. Two goals from set-pieces. We created a lot but didn't score. We were in a rush, not really clear enough. But we were not good enough, that's what we have to admit, absolutely.
"Of course I didn't expect that today but it happened anyway. Obviously it's not the greatest moment we are in. In the end it's not good enough. When you win you have 500 reasons. When you lose, it's just not good enough."
Klopp could only shake his head about Calvert-Lewin's 58th-minute goal from a corner kick, saying Everton have had that set piece in their play book all season and his players were prepared for it.
"It's extra special, isn't it? Local derby," Calvert-Lewin said. "Where we are in the league, we needed a massive three points and everything kind of came together tonight."
Liverpool travel to West Ham tomorrow. They clash with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Wolves in their final three games.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace made sure of Premier League safety with a 2-0 home defeat of Newcastle.
Only four matches left before Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool reign ends. REUTERS