Salah strikes, Van Dijk finishes as Liverpool win derby at the death
The Egyptian opened the scoring and the Dutchman sealed the win for Liverpool in the 100th minute. The Reds move up to fifth, seven points clear of Chelsea. Mamardashvili, injured, was stretchered off.
If Everton built the city of Liverpool, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have long since crowned themselves its kings. They may not be “The Originals,” but they are the two Reds legends, still irreplaceable, who delivered Arne Slot’s side a dramatic Merseyside derby win over the Toffees (1-2). The first at Hill Dickinson Stadium and the last for the Pharaoh. No one has scored more goals (9, level with Steven Gerrard) against the side now managed by David Moyes.
The win strengthens Liverpool’s hold on the Champions League spots. Their +3 and Chelsea’s 1-0 loss lift them into fifth place, seven points ahead of the Blues. The Dutch coach can breathe again. But as has often been the case for Liverpool this season, the highs come with a cost. Days after Ekitiké was ruled out for the season and the World Cup, it was Mamardashvili’s turn against Everton. The Georgian, filling in after Alisson’s injury, was carried off on a stretcher at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Arne Slot and Georgia wait anxiously over his left knee. England, too, over Branthwaite. Players’ bodies are at the limit.
Fast start at Hill Dickinson
How could David Moyes’ men not be lifted by the reception at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The atmosphere, both outside and inside the Toffees’ new home, was electric. Few derbies are played with more intensity than those on Merseyside, and this stadium needs games like this to build its own identity after Goodison Park. Everton came out accordingly. Sharp, energized and dangerous.
Beto was the first to test the opposing keeper, and Iliman Ndiaye was the first to find the net. The problem for the hosts was that Everton’s in-form No. 9 ran into a stunning save from Mamardashvili, and their gifted No. 10, who briefly sparked celebrations, was denied by an offside call that wiped out the entire move. And the 1-0, of course.
That was when Mohamed Salah stepped in and did what he always does. Momentum, as they say in England. Within two minutes, while the home crowd was still recovering from the disallowed goal, it was 0-1. In the 29th minute, Gakpo, who had just tested Pickford, threaded a perfect pass for the Pharaoh, who did the rest: score. One-on-one, left foot, and Salah shifted the celebrations to the away end. The king was crowned again in “his” city.
Injuries and late drama
But for Liverpool, there always seems to be another layer of misfortune. Just ask Arne Slot, who saw Everton equalize and lose his goalkeeper in the same play. Beto made it 1-1 in the 54th minute, his fifth goal in six games, again exposing Ibrahima Konaté and sending Mamardashvili to the treatment room. While the Frenchman was again caught out defensively, the Georgian collided with the striker after the shot and badly injured his left knee. Badly enough to be stretchered off. Full concern.
Liverpool finished the game with third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman, making his debut, and without Isak. The Swede delivered another forgettable performance. Invisible and ineffective, the Premier League’s most expensive signing made way for Rio Ngumoha, the youngest player ever to feature in a Merseyside derby for the Reds.
Everton center back Jarrad Branthwaite was the latest to join the growing list of major injuries late in the season. In tears and also on a stretcher, the English defender left the field knowing that any hope of a call-up from Thomas Tuchel may now be gone.
It could have been worse for Everton if Ngumoha had scored the 1-2 in stoppage time with a shot that sailed over the bar. And it was worse. Not in the 108th minute, but in the 110th. From one legend to another, Salah opened the scoring at Hill Dickinson Stadium and Van Dijk closed it. Towering as ever, the Reds captain rose high in the box and powered a corner into the net. The Merseyside derby went Liverpool’s way at the death, with suffering, and thanks to the usual suspects.
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- 1 Jordan Pickford
- 6 James Tarkowski
- 15 Jake O´Brien
- 32 Jarrad Branthwaite (86')
- 16 Mykolenko
- 27 Idrissa Gueye
- 10 Iliman Ndiaye
- 7 Dwight McNeil (79')
- 22 Kieran Dewsbury-Hall
- 37 James Garner
- 9 Beto (72')
- Substitutes
- 24 Charly Alcaraz
- 2 Patterson
- 42 Tim Iroegbunam
- 34 Merlin Röhl
- 12 Mark Travers
- 19 Tyrique George (79')
- 11 Thierno Barry (72')
- 20 Tyler Dibling
- 5 Michael Keane (86')
- 25 Mamardashvili (57')
- 4 Virgil Van Dijk
- 17 Curtis Jones
- 26 A. Robertson (85')
- 5 Ibrahima Konate
- 18 Gakpo (83')
- 8 Dominik Szoboszlai
- 38 Ryan Gravenberch
- 7 Florian Wirtz (83')
- 11 Salah
- 9 Isak (71')
- Substitutes
- 28 Woodman (57')
- 10 Alexis Mac Allister (83')
- 73 Rio Ngumoha (71')
- 30 Jeremie Frimpong (83')
- 41 Ármin Pécsi
- 42 Trey Nyoni
- 14 Federico Chiesa
- 6 Milos Kerkez (85')
Substitutions
Freddie Woodman (57', Giorgi Mamardashvili), Rio Ngumoha (71', Alexander Isak), Thierno Barry (72', Beto), Tyrique George (79', Dwight McNeil), Jeremie Frimpong (83', Cody Gakpo), Alexis Mac Allister (83', Florian Wirtz), Milos Kerkez (85', Andy Robertson), Michael Keane (86', Jarrad Branthwaite)
Goals
0-1, 28': Salah, 1-1, 53': Beto, 1-2, 99': Virgil Van Dijk
Cards
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR Referee: Paul Howard, Sian Massey-Ellis
Jordan Pickford (21',Yellow), James Garner (101',Yellow)
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