Mohamed Salah yet again had his say on a Merseyside derby (Image: Getty)
Liverpool hit Everton with a 101st-minute winner in the first ever Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday. Captain Virgil van Dijk decided the match deep into stoppage time after Mohamed Salah had earlier equalled Steven Gerrard’s club record for the most Premier League goals scored against Everton with his ninth. Salah put the Reds in front against the run of play just two minutes after Iliman Ndiaye had a goal ruled out for offside. Salah finished past Jordan Pickford after Cody Gakpo’s terrific pass put him in on goal.
But Beto had Everton level nine minutes into the second half after finishing from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s teasing cross. Despite being rocked by an injury to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, Everton failed to truly trouble Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and Van Dijk struck deep into stoppage time with a header from a corner kick. The victory is a massive one for Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Express Sport rates and slates the Reds…
Liverpool player ratings vs Everton
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 7
Sensational early save to deny Beto and better with his distribution than in midweek but was stretchered off injured before the hour mark in another devastating blow for Liverpool.
Too easily allowed James Garner to cross for Beto’s early chance but was better defensively after that. Crucial touch to prevent Beto going one-on-one first half and a great long ball almost set up Gakpo to make it 2-0. A steady performance out of his natural position.
Allowed Beto to run in behind him for one first-half chance but did well to play Jake O’Brien offside before the disallowed Iliman Ndiaye goal. Was however caught out by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s run and cross for the equaliser. Some dodgy defending almost led to an Everton chance before he recovered to thwart Dewsbury-Hall inside the box.
Scored Liverpool’s last-gasp winner after being in the perfect place. Dominant in the air and took a no-nonsense approach with his defending. Not as flustered by Beto as he was in this same fixture last season, at Goodison Park, and not at fault for the Everton striker’s equaliser.
Competed well in his final Merseyside derby and produced some brilliant cross-field passes. But too weak against Beto for the equaliser and inadvertently fouled his own goalkeeper. Drilled a second-half shot wide.
A mixed performance in and out of possession. Was extremely fortunate not to pick up a yellow card in the first half and guilty of poor decision-making with the ball at his feet, especially in the second half.
The Liverpool players celebrate Mohamed Salah’s opening goal (Image: Getty)
Virgil van Dijk enjoys his late Liverpool winner (Image: Getty)
Worked hard, as usual, and really solid defensively but perhaps not as influential as he’d have liked to be in the final third. That was until he had a shot deflected wide at the death which led to the corner Van Dijk scored the winner from. It was his delivery that set up the Dutchman’s winner.
Very good in his last derby. Looked sharp and played with a point to prove after starting neither leg vs PSG. Absolutely clinical finish to put Liverpool 1-0 up and then fought really hard off the ball. A great cross for Gakpo’s header which was cleared off the line.
Really sloppy on the ball in the first half an hour but grew into it more. A well-weighted pass into Gakpo set up a chance shortly after Everton’s disallowed goal and found Isak before his shot was saved. But still only provided quality in very brief flashes and was strangely scared to shoot at times.
Really lively from the left wing after being preferred to Rio Ngumoha. Forced a few saves out of Jordan Pickford and supplied an absolutely perfect pass for Salah’s goal. Denied a goal of his own in the second goal by James Tarkowski on the line and then moved up front when Isak went off where he was less influential.
Virtually anonymous first half with just five touches. Fired straight into Pickford’s hands with his only shot before the break and his lack of sharpness was summed up in the second half where he was easily bumped off the ball.
Substitutes
Freddie Woodman (on for Mamardashvili, 57) – 7
Made his Premier League debut for Liverpool off the bench. Was solid and saved well from Ndiaye.
Rio Ngumoha (on for Isak, 72) – 5
One blocked shot and then fired another over deep into stoppage time. Had to do so much better with that chance.
Alexis Mac Allister (on for Wirtz, 83) – 5
Gave away a few fouls. That was about it.
Jeremie Frimpong (83) –
Milos Kerkez (on for Robertson, 86) – 5
See above, bar a clever dummy for Ngumoha’s late chance.
