DUNN Mediocre Blues may soon see Luk run out too

IT took the Kop until added time to come up with it and, even then, it was not particularly clever.

“Lukaku’s right, you’re …”

No need to finish it, two words, aimed at Everton, last one rhymes with right.

The reference was to Romelu Lukaku’s suggestion that Everton could have signed more quality players last summer, but, for one reason or another, did not.

In that same interview – one that incurred the wrath of Ronald Koeman – Lukaku talked openly of wanting the “platform” of the Champions League.

They are not as bad as Liverpool supporters were crudely suggesting, but here was stark evidence Lukaku is not going to get that platform with Everton any time soon.

Yet, on the flip side, here was also stark evidence of why the elite have not been battering on Goodison’s door with monstrous offers for Lukaku (below).

Short of service and support, yes. Short of urgency and commitment, yes. A lack of a touch of quality around him, yes. A lack of a quality touch, yes.

Ahead of an entirely predictable Merseyside derby, Koeman had said Lukaku’s situation did not concern him, the player has two years remaining on his contract and his dedication could not be questioned. Maybe. Until this. In a system that seemed unsuited to the staff, in a team shorn of several key players and laced with inexperience, Lukaku was always going to struggle to shine, but he made absolutely nothing happen.

Towards the end of a routine Liverpool triumph, Idrissa Gueye sent a pass forward into the right channel, Lukaku cantered after it. Did not sprint, cantered, got a touch and was dispossessed by Dejan Lovren.

It was a snapshot of Lukaku’s all-round contribution. Slack.

For the third time this season, he did not have a shot. The other two opponents who completely negated his threat were Chelsea and Manchester United. Telling. If and when he achieves his long-trumpeted ambition to play regular Champions League football, Lukaku might not find it too much of a cakewalk.

Looking at the final two years of Koeman’s contract, it will take some serious squad-strengthening if a Champions League place is a realistic target for Everton.

Right now, they are the best of the rest, top of the Premier League’s 14-team second division.

This defeat and the one at White Hart Lane recently demonstrated that.

Koeman acclaimed his young players, but Liverpool’s tempo was too intense, Tom Davies caught out by acceleration that started Sadio

Mane’s run and finish for the first.

At 22, Matthew Pennington is an older youngster, but showed his naivety by consistently showing Philippe Coutinho on to his right foot.

Coutinho’s finish to put Liverpool back in front after Pennington had stabbed in a set-piece equaliser was great, but graciously invited.

Everton’s mediocrity was not just limited to youth, Ashley Williams being caught out by Coutinho’s cuteness, allowing Divock Origi to beat Joel Robles, who appeared to be staging some sort of industrial action.

It was the sort of incoherent, ineffective team performance expected from Everton in these fixtures.

Ross Barkley trod on a couple of people, but leaving your foot in alone doesn’t win games, which is why Koeman’s post-match analysis was odd.

Proud of his team, controlled most of the game. No, they did not.

There was nothing in Lukaku’s own performance to woo a Chelsea, a Manchester United or whoever, but maybe he has already done enough.

And while his goals will be fiendishly difficult to find, if £60million actually does come in, maybe it will be best to say thanks all round.

Maybe it will be time to say goodbye.