Jurgen Klopp said sorry to Liverpool fans as their Premier League title hopes were dealt a critical blow by bitter rivals Everton.
Klopp's last visit to Goodison Park ended with his first defeat there, as Everton ran out deserved 2-0 winners in Wednesday night's Merseyside derby.
4
Premier League title glory was all that was left for Liverpool following exits in the FA Cup and Europa League, but this now looks a distant possibility.
They trail leaders Arsenal by three points and have a much inferior goal difference, while third-placed Manchester City are a point behind but have two games in hand.
"I can only apologise for today to the people. It is very disappointing. We played the game Everton wanted and they scored two goals from set-pieces. We should have done better but we didn't," said Klopp, as he took responsibility for the crushing derby defeat.
"No good thoughts at all. Very disappointed and frustrated. It was not good enough.
READ MORE ON LIVERPOOL
"It was not the most inspired performance of all time, I really feel for the people. We never lost here (it was Everton's first Goodison derby win in almost 14 years) and it feels really different. I really apologise for that.
"I can't say now that we are still fully in it; we need a crisis at Man City and Arsenal and need to win football games because if they start losing all their games and we do what we did tonight nothing changes.
4
"We are not safe in the Champions League as well so we should just play better football.
"It is not a problem of attitude or what the boys want. No one is doing that on purpose.
Most read in Football
"It is my job to bring them into a situation where they feel confident to do that. That part I am responsible and I am responsible for what happened tonight.
"It is not that I feel great, that is the most tricky part of football obviously. In the moment it didn't work out and we have to keep trying."
Liverpool had seven shots on target against Everton, but it was yet another case of them lacking a clinical edge in front of goal.
This was the same in their 2-2 draw at Manchester United and shock 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace, and Klopp believes that it's a problem that needs addressing.
4
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: "I really think we should just try to win football games by playing better, more convincing, using our chances.
"That's obviously the problem now over the last few weeks, I think that's obvious. We create, we don't use them often enough.
"To the end of the season it's obviously not great because the first thing you need is results, for that you need to score goals, shouldn't concede, would be helpful as well. Yeah, nothing good to say about this today."
One huge chance in particular fell to Darwin Nunez, who had a clear shot at goal, but he could only fire his effort straight at Jordan Pickford when he should arguably have found the bottom corner.
The Uruguayan is Liverpool's second top scorer all season on 18 goals but club legend Jamie Carragher doesn't think he can produce when it matters.
Speaking on the missed chance, he said on Sky Sports: "The chance Nunez misses before half-time, that's unforgivable at this level.
"These lads [Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge] know a lot more than me about that, but that's not acceptable at this level, certainly when Liverpool are going for the title."
Carragher later said there is a 'real discussion' with Liverpool's new manager, who could be Arne Slot amid opened talks, about the future of Mohamed Salah amid his contract expiry next summer.
4
However, he doesn't think this is the same when it comes to Nunez: "I think I'm at the stage now with Nunez where I don't think there is a question to ask.
"I think after two years at the club, and I've probably been guilty of this, you want him to do well so much, there's so much of what you like because he gives everything.
Read More on talkSPORT
"He runs, he causes trouble, he gets the odd goal, he gets an assist but after two years now and when Liverpool this season are going for the title, in those big games you need your man to score.
"Away at Old Trafford, away at Goodison, in the European game at Atalanta. There's no time to wait, this is not October, November, this is the business end of the title race."