Van Dijk’s Derby Winner

Virgil van Dijk headed Liverpool to a 2-1 win over Everton in the 100th minute on Sunday, deciding the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium. (espn.com) Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead in the 29th minute after Cody Gakpo seized on a loose Everton pass, and Beto equalized in the 54th with his fourth goal in three games. (espn.com) (thestar.com.my) Van Dijk scored from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner in the 10th minute of stoppage time, rising above James Tarkowski after Rio Ngumoha had missed a chance two minutes earlier. (espn.com) (thestar.com.my) The result moved Liverpool to 55 points in fifth place, seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea with five matches left. Everton stayed 10th and missed a chance to climb to sixth. (espn.com) (skysports.com) That made the derby part of the race for Champions League qualification, with the Premier League’s top five set to qualify for next season’s competition. Liverpool also needed the response after a midweek Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain and four defeats in five matches. (thestar.com.my) (espn.com) The match carried extra weight because it was the 248th Merseyside derby and the first league meeting between the clubs at Everton’s new 52,585-capacity home. Everton had pushed hard early, with Beto forcing a save and later missing a one-on-one chance before Liverpool scored against the run of play. (skysports.com) (espn.com) Salah’s goal also drew him level with Steven Gerrard on nine Merseyside derby goals, according to ESPN’s match report. Reuters reported that the Egypt forward is playing his final derby before a planned summer departure. (espn.com) (thestar.com.my) Liverpool lost goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to injury after Everton’s equalizer, and Freddie Woodman came on for the final stretch of a game that swung repeatedly in the second half. By the end, Van Dijk had turned a draw into a win and left Everton’s new stadium with Liverpool’s first derby victory there. (thestar.com.my) (skysports.com)