Jamie Carragher watched Liverpool’s title hopes go up in smoke at Goodison Park… and took aim at Darwin Nunez.
The Reds hopes of lifting the Premier League in Jurgen Klopp’s farewell campaign may well have been ended by Merseyside rivals Everton, after a 2-0 defeat on the opposite side of Stanley Park. Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck in either half on a night where Liverpool were second best by a distance.
After a dire opening 27 minutes where they were overpowered by Sean Dyche's side, Branthwaite put the Toffees deservedly in front. But on the stroke of half-time, with Liverpool in the ascendency, Nunez had the opportunity to put them in level at the break with a guilt-edged chance.
But the Uruguayan missed, Liverpool went in behind, lost their momentum, and found themselves two down before the hour mark after a lacklustre start to the second period.
Carragher was scathing in his assessment of Liverpool's No.9 and his oft-wayward finishing.
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"The chance that Nunez misses before half-time, that is unforgivable at this level," said the ex-Liverpol captain. "That is not acceptable at this level, certainly when Liverpool are going for the title."
And Carragher would go further, wondering if, after two years on Merseyside, and 33 goals in 92 games for the club, it might be time for Liverpool to cut ties with the ex-Benfica hitman already this summer.
"I think there is a question to ask," he added. "You want him to do well because there is so much that you like because he gives everything, he runs and causes trouble and gets the odd goal and gets an assist.
"But after two years when Liverpool this season are going to the title and those big games, you need your man to score away at Old Trafford, away at Goodison, in the European game at Atalanta. There is no time to waste, this is not October or November. This is the business end
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool speaks with manager Jurgen Klopp after the final whistle (Offside via Getty Images)"In terms of Nunez and where the club go forward now, we have all been in squads where someone comes in and maybe you talk about the first year and maybe say, okay he’s getting up to speed with and he’s improving, and it looked like he was at the start of the season. But it has ground to a halt.
"You are looking at it now and after two years, I don’t think there is going to be a massive improvement in him. What we have seen in the last two years is what he is.
"He can cause trouble, he can be erratic with his finishing. I don’t think it is going to be enough to win you the biggest trophies so I think there is a big decision to be made on him in the summer."
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted he was disappointed in his side's showing and said a few of his team-mates need to have a serious think about whether they put in the effort required after being overrun by their hosts.
"Very disappointed in so many ways," he said. "Everyone has to look in the mirror and look at their own performance and think if they gave everything.
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"Do they really want to win the league? If you play like this overall in the game and not win any challenges and give the referee an opportunity to give a free-kick away then we have no chance to win the title.
"We have to do much better."
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