There was a new home for the Merseyside derby but an old and familiar script. Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute winner brought victory and relief for Arne Slot as Everton’s hopes of christening Hill Dickinson Stadium in style were punctured by another late Liverpool show.
The 248th Merseyside derby was petering out towards a forgettable draw when the Liverpool captain held off James Tarkowski to head home a Dominik Szoboszlai corner. Liverpool had tried the routine all afternoon and, in the 10th of 11 minutes of stoppage time, it finally paid off. Slot’s prospects of leading Liverpool into the Champions League next season lifted along with the noise from the delirious away section.
Liverpool could have been forgiven for tiring in the closing stages after their midweek exertions against Paris Saint-Germain but Slot used his five substitutions wisely. David Moyes’ introduction of Thierno Barry and Tyrique George, by contrast, sent Everton’s performance plummeting. Both were dreadful and helped hand the initiative to Liverpool in the closing stages. The visitors took full advantage.
Everton will again ponder what might and should have been in a derby. Urged on by an impassioned home support, the hosts were the better side until Mohamed Salah produced a bolt from the red in the 29th minute. Moyes’ side produced the more controlled, inventive football while Liverpool’s threat came exclusively from corner kicks. Everton could not contain them for ever.
