Virgil van Dijk rose above the Everton defence to head home a dramatic 100th‑minute winner, giving Liverpool a 2-1 triumph over their Merseyside rivals in the inaugural derby at the newly‑opened Hill Dickinson Stadium. The match, which will be remembered for its nail‑biting finish, saw the Liverpool captain outjump James Tarkowski to tap in the decisive cross from Dominik Szoboszlai, sealing the win in injury time. The first half was dominated by Liverpool, who took the lead when Mohamed Salah finished a precise pass from Cody Gakpo. Salah’s goal, the first ever scored in a Merseyside derby at this venue, was a moment of individual brilliance that set the tone for the Reds.
Everton responded with pressure, and Beto came close on a couple of occasions, only to be denied first by a spectacular save from Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and then by his own mis‑fire. The second half saw Everton increase the tempo. Their persistence paid off when Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall delivered a low cross that found Beto at the far post.
The Brazilian striker, who had been a constant threat throughout the game, headed home to level the score, giving the Toffees a glimmer of hope and sending their fans into a brief celebration. The equaliser came after a VAR check confirmed that Jake O'Brien had been offside in the build‑up to Liverpool’s opening goal, adding another layer of controversy to an already intense encounter. For Liverpool, the match was more than just three points; it was a statement of intent in the race for a Champions League place. The win lifted them seven points clear of sixth‑placed Chelsea with five games remaining, strengthening their bid for European qualification.
In contrast, Everton’s hopes of climbing into the top six were dented, leaving them still perched in tenth place. The post‑match reactions highlighted the significance of the result. Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher praised the performance, noting the importance of the victory in light of Liverpool’s recent slip against Chelsea.
He remarked, "Two of the absolute legends of the club have done it. Salah and probably Van Dijk in 12 months' time. Two of the absolute greats. Salah has done it again against Liverpool's biggest rivals, as he always does." Salah, who was named Player of the Match, spoke to Sky Sports about the win.
"It feels great. The most important thing was to help the team settle down and feel more confident.
We knew before the game it was going to be tricky, but I’m glad we managed to win. I just want to keep scoring and help the team to the Champions League.
Hopefully I can say farewell in the right way," he said, hinting at a possible future departure. Van Dijk, the Liverpool captain, also addressed the media. "Today it was massive in the situation we are in, where we are in the hunt for the Champions League spots.
That's definitely not Liverpool‑worthy in my opinion, but it is the reality and it was important we got the win today and I'm glad we did. We've got five more games left against teams that are also fighting for the Champions League spots. Every game is a big one and we are very disappointed as a whole for the season we are having because, with the quality we have, it's below standards. But we have to keep fighting, keep going and make the best out of this difficult season we are having.
That's the reality, but onto the next," he explained. Everton manager David Moyes was more measured in his press conference.
He admitted his side did not deserve the loss, describing football as "cruel sometimes" and emphasizing the need to bounce back. "The players did a good job. There were periods when Liverpool had control but we had big periods of control, especially in the first 20 minutes. I don’t think we offered Liverpool too many chances in the whole game," Moyes said, defending his team's effort despite the defeat.
The match also featured several injury incidents. Mamardashvili suffered a serious wound after colliding with Beto while attempting to claim the ball near the line, forcing him off and prompting the substitution of Freddie Woodman. Liverpool manager Arne Slot later commented on the goalkeeper’s condition, saying, "Giorgi had to go to hospital with a big wound so let's see how he will be." Later in the game, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite was forced off with an injury and was replaced by Michael Keane, a development that Moyes described as concerning. Statistically, Liverpool fielded a strong lineup with Mamardashvili, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Wirtz, Salah, Isak and Gakpo starting the match, while Everton’s XI included Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, McNeil, Dewsbury‑Hall, Ndiaye and Beto.
The match report also listed the bench players and highlighted Salah as the standout performer. Beyond the immediate drama, the fixture underscored the growing importance of the Hill Dickinson Stadium as a neutral ground for high‑profile matches.
The stadium, built to host a variety of events, provided a modern backdrop for the derby, and the crowd’s energy was palpable throughout the 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Looking ahead, Liverpool will aim to maintain their momentum in the remaining fixtures, targeting wins against other European‑ambition clubs to secure a top‑four finish. Everton, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly, focusing on defensive solidity and capitalising on the attacking spark shown by Beto. For fans wanting to relive the highlights, the Premier League offers streaming options through NOW, while live tables, fixtures and other league content remain accessible via the official website.
The derby also generated significant social media buzz, with supporters sharing clips of the late header, Salah’s opening goal, and the post‑match interviews. In summary, Van Dijk’s last‑minute header not only delivered a dramatic win for Liverpool but also reinforced the club’s resolve in a tightly contested league race.
The match will be remembered as a classic Merseyside encounter, showcasing the passion, rivalry, and occasional heartbreak that define English football.