Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored with a header in the 10th minute of second-half injury time on Sunday to snatch a 2-1 Premier League win in a thrilling climax to the first Merseyside derby at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Liverpool looked shaky again, losing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to injury in the second half, but Van Dijk dug deep to earn a win that boosts hopes of Champions League football despite a disappointing season.
The result leaves Liverpool fifth in the standings with 55 points, three behind Aston Villa with five games left to play. Everton are 10th with 47 points.
EVE vs LIV – JUST AS IT HAPPENED
The best five teams will play in the Champions League next season.
SALAH SCORET IN THE LAST MERSEYSIDE DERBY
Playing in his final derby before his planned departure from Liverpool in the summer, Mohamed Salah put his stamp on the match in the 29th minute as Everton gave the ball away cheaply and Cody Gakpo picked out the Egyptian who calmly fired past Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock.
After a poor start, that goal brought the visitors to life, but Beto brought Everton roaring back early in the second half, denying Liverpool defender Andy Robertson before sending Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s low cross into the net from close range.
In a worrying development for coach Arne Slot, goalkeeper Mamardashvili was injured in the incident and had to be replaced by Freddie Woodman. The 29-year-old had some worrying moments as he found himself in the net for the remainder of one of the biggest games in English football.
Gakpo decided that attack was the best form of defense and went close with a header for Liverpool, which was cleared by James Tarkowski, but Everton finished strongly and looked on their way to a well-deserved point.
Liverpool had other ideas, however, with substitute Rio Ngumoha firing an excellent chance over the bar in the eighth minute of stoppage time at the end of the match, before Van Dijk’s late heroics wrapped up the win.
Published on April 19, 2026
