Everton 1-2 Liverpool: 99th minute winner gives Liverpool three points on derby day | OneFootball

Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners on their first visit to Everton’s new ground this afternoon, thanks to a last gasp winner from Virgil Van Dijk.

Arne Slot’s side opened the scoring in the first half, through Salah, who signed off his Merseyside Derby career in the perfect manner. However, a second-half equaliser from Beto looked to give the Toffees a point until Van Dijk’s header broke Evertonian hearts at the Hill Dickinson.

As It Happened

The first Merseyside Derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium saw Everton get the better of the early going, when Beto forced Giorgi Mamardashvili into a great save with a close-range header. Liverpool won the first corner of the day a few minutes later, but it was dealt with by the Everton defence. There were loud appeals from the Everton crowd and players for a penalty in the 11th minute, but the referee waved them away.

James Garner tested Mamardashvili from range in the 14th minute, but the Georgian was equal to it and made a strong save. Beto was played clean through on goal a moment later, but his finish was well wide of the target.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was shown the first yellow card of the day after he asked the referee to book Van Dijk. The hosts appeared to find the opening goal through Iliman Ndiaye a few minutes later, but the goal was ruled out due to an offside in the build-up.

Liverpool went straight up the other end and got themselves ahead, with Salah slotting the ball home in his farewell derby before wheeling away to celebrate in front of the travelling fans. Salah also found the net in his first Merseyside Derby, all the way back in 2017.

Liverpool looked to double their lead before the break, but Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-range effort was blocked by James Tarkowski, keeping the score at 1-0 going into half-time.

Everton found their equaliser early in the second half, when Beto slid in and poked home inside the six-yard box. The restart of play was briefly delayed following the goal to allow Mamardashvili to receive medical treatment. The Georgian keeper was stretchered off the field and replaced by former Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, making his Liverpool debut.

Cody Gakpo nearly put the Reds back ahead on the hour mark, but his strike flew narrowly wide of the post. Moments later, Gakpo saw his header cleared off the line by Tarkowski, who, of course, grabbed the headlines the last time Everton hosted Liverpool thanks to his last-gasp volley.

A lengthy break in play followed, allowing Beto to receive treatment following a clash of heads with Ibrahima Konaté. Arne Slot rolled the dice in the 71st minute, with Rio Nghumoha replacing Alexander Isak. Beto was also withdrawn through injury and replaced by Thierno Barry.

Dwight McNeil almost gave Everton the lead when he flashed the ball across the face of the goal and had Woodman scrambling. McNeil’s afternoon came to an end just minutes later, when he was replaced by Chelsea loanee Tyrique George.

Liverpool made a double change shortly after, with Gakpo and Florian Wirtz withdrawn in favour of Alexis Mac Allister and Jeremie Frimpong. Jarred Branthwaite then came off due to injury, with Moyes opting to replace him with Michael Keane in a like-for-like substitution.

Milos Kerkez was introduced for the final five minutes of regular, bringing Andy Robertson’s final Merseyside Derby to a close. George looked to give Everton the lead in the 88th minute, but his header couldn’t find the target.

A coming together between Mac Allister and Jake O’Brien earned Everton a late free-kick, which almost caused problems for Liverpool, when Pickford launched the ball into the penalty area, and Woodman appeared to spill it before eventually gathering.

Nghumoha got on the end of a brilliant passing move for Liverpool in the closing moments, but the teenager couldn’t keep his shot down. They did get their goal minutes later, though, when Van Dijk headed home from Szoboszlai’s corner in the 99th minute, giving Liverpool all three points.