Liverpool snatched a dramatic victory over Everton in the first ever Merseyside derby played at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Virgil van Dijk heading home a stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 triumph.
Mohamed Salah had given the Reds the lead in the first half, but Beto levelled for Everton shortly after the restart. The game appeared destined for a draw, but Van Dijk rose highest to meet Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner in the 10th minute of added time, sending the travelling Liverpool supporters into raptures.
The win moves Liverpool seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea with five Premier League matches remaining, bolstering their Champions League qualification hopes.
Speaking after the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was effusive in his praise for his team’s resilience and character. He highlighted the psychological importance of scoring a late winner, particularly after conceding several in stoppage time earlier in the campaign.
“If I’m correct – though I may be wrong – it’s been a while since we’ve conceded in extra time,” Slot explained.
“So, when the board went up for added time, that wasn’t my first thought. And looking at my players, it certainly wasn’t theirs. We were getting closer and closer to scoring.”
Slot was particularly impressed with his side’s performance given the numerous challenges they’ve faced.
“It’s an unbelievable compliment to these players. We’ve played five games in 15 days with largely the same team.
“We finished the game without a recognised right-back, and started it without one! Curtis Jones did really well there, by the way.
“We had our third-choice goalkeeper, and a forward who’s usually a right winger playing up front. To show what they showed is a huge compliment to the mentality of this team.”
The Dutchman also emphasised the significance of the win in the context of the club’s recent history, following the commemorations for the Hillsborough disaster.
“It’s a privilege to represent this club, and today they showed what that means to the players. The fans have been a massive support all season, and to beat Everton in their new stadium after the week we’ve had is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved at Liverpool FC.”
Slot acknowledged the season hasn’t been without its difficulties, but believes this victory could be a turning point.
“We haven’t had a lot of big moments this season, and when we have, we’ve often conceded afterwards. This feels different. We’ve not been at our standards this season, but we’re pushing for Champions League qualification.”
The manager also provided an update on goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who suffered a facial injury during the match and was replaced by Freddie Woodman. “There are no surprises when it comes to injuries for us this season,” Slot quipped.
“I had two goalkeepers on the bench today, which isn’t usually the case. Giorgi went to the hospital with a bad wound, so we’ll see how he is. Freddie did a great job, keeping his calm in a difficult moment and deserves a lot of credit.”
