A new £800m setting for the Merseyside derby contained an old and familiar script. Everton came to christen Hill Dickinson Stadium’s derby debut in style but were devastated by the latest Liverpool show of all, as Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute header brought victory, relief for Arne Slot and Champions League qualification a little closer. It was some response to a trying week for the Premier League champions.
The old guard led the way for Liverpool once more with Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah on the scoresheet, either side of a Beto equaliser, and the visitors refusing to settle for the point that both teams merited. Liverpool tried to exploit Everton’s vulnerability at set pieces all afternoon, mostly without success, but in the 10th of 11 minutes added on it finally paid off. Van Dijk held off James Tarkowski to convert Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner at close range, and Slot’s prospects of leading Liverpool into next season’s Champions League soared.
