It was a landmark occasion that demanded a landmark finish. As Everton hosted their first-ever derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool proved to be the ultimate party crashers.
In a game defined by grit and record-breaking tension, a 100th-minute Virgil van Dijk winner settled a 2-1 thriller, giving the 248th installment of this rivalry a place among its most iconic chapters.
Heading into the fiery clash, it was paramount that the red half of Merseyside came away from this contest with all three points, having lost four of their last five games in all competitions.
Thankfully, Liverpool looked up for the magnitude of the match ahead of them, as Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock early in the first half, with a calm finish past Jordan Pickford.
Arne Slot’s men then had to ride out a storm, with the Toffees responding in the second half, courtesy of Beto scrambling home an invaluable equaliser to make it 1-1.
Liverpool just kept plugging away, though, despite the breathless nature of the contest, and they got what they deserved for their spirited performance, when Virgil Van Dijk connected with a Dominik Szoboszlai corner kick delivery, as the clock ticked down to the tenth minute of added-on time, to hand the away side a monumental 2-1 win.
Here are five talking points from the very memorable Merseyside Derby, as the Dutch colossus led by example, once more, as Liverpool’s valiant captain.
1. Van Dijk proves that class is permanent
Van Dijk hasn’t been without his critics this season, as he is very deep, now, into the twilight years of his Anfield career.
He responded to his dissenters in some style with his last-gasp winner, with Van Dijk always a brute in the air for opposition defenders to try and contain.
Off the back of coolly powering home this decisive header, Van Dijk is now Liverpool’s second-oldest goalscorer in the Merseyside Derby, at 34 years and 285 days. The record is held by Gary Mc Allister, who bagged the winner for the Reds at Goodison Park in 2001, coming in at 36 years and 112 days.
Age is just a number in Van Dijk’s mind, as Slot will surely keep selecting him as one of his mainstays at the back for the rest of the season.
2. Salah bows out of the Merseyside Derby with another goal
While the 6-foot-5 monster made sure of all three points, another of Slot’s long-lasting Anfield servants in the aforementioned Salah would get the ball rolling with the crucial opener.
The opening exchanges at the Hill Dickinson Stadium were cagey, and Liverpool had to deal with Iliman Ndiaye’s 27th-minute strike being ruled out due to a VAR check.
Amazingly, just moments after VAR intervened, Salah confidently finished past Pickford after Cody Gakpo found him in space.
This was Salah’s ninth goal in the Merseyside Derby overall, tying him with Steven Gerrard, and it will be his last, with Curtis Jones mimicking in the celebration for the magical Egyptian to wear a crown, as he is Reds royalty.
3.Liverpool did show some defensive frailties
Liverpool didn’t have everything their own way. The atmosphere was raucous throughout, and the noise inside the Toffees’ brand-new home was deafening when Beto prodded home the leveller in the 54th minute.
The strike ultimately meant nothing, as Van Dijk became the overwhelming hero of the day for the away side, but it was another game where a goal was leaked, meaning Slot and Co. have only kept two clean sheets across their last 11 games.
Liverpool also had to deal with the unfortunate situation of Giorgi Mamardashvili having to be stretchered off, which will leave the under-fire Dutchman with a headache in the selection department for upcoming matches.
4. Liverpool need Alisson back fast
In the chaos that ensued after Beto’s dramatic equaliser, Mamardashvili worryingly stayed down.
Clattering into a Liverpool player as the Portuguese marksman bundled the goal home, he had to be taken off on a stretcher.
This led to Freddie Woodman coming on for his first taste of action for the Merseyside giants in the Premier League, since featuring against Newcastle United in September 2021.
Woodman ended up being a reliable pair of gloves for the latter stages of the game, as Liverpool went on to win 2-1, with him coming on surprisingly.
But, Slot will be desperately wanting Alisson to return from his hamstring injury now, so he can throw the reliable Brazilian back into contests, as the Reds could potentially have to start their third-choice ‘keeper next weekend, when Crystal Palace travels to Anfield.
5. Nguhoma makes more Reds history
Lastly, Rio Nguhoma made even more Reds history when gaining a late substitute cameo against Moyes’ hosts.
Nguhoma is now the youngest player to ever feature in such an illustrious Derby, coming in at 17 years and 233 days of age.
He couldn’t quite back up his goal against Fulham with another strike against the Toffees, with his effort against the Cottagers making him Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer at their famous home.
But, he was still lively in patches, and the much-talked-about teenager will no doubt go on to play in even more exciting Derbies, across the span of his senior career to come on Merseyside.
