Virgil van Dijk snatches victory for Liverpool in first derby at Everton’s new home

The flow of the derby and the respective performances of the two teams was transformed inside three minutes.

Hill Dickinson Stadium erupted when Jake O’Brien’s cross landed at the feet of Iliman Ndiaye and the Senegal international swept a cool finish beyond Mamardashvili. It was a merited lead and prolonged celebrations ensued. O’Brien, however, was offside when collecting Pickford’s clearance down the right and the celebrations switched to the away section when the goal was disallowed after a video assistant referee check.

Beto celebrates scoring Everton’s equaliser. Liverpool’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili had to go off after being injured in the incident. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

Everton were still stewing over the decision when Liverpool deepened their torment in devastating style. The home side played themselves into trouble deep inside their own half before McNeil miscued a poor touch straight to Cody Gakpo. Gakpo was a surprise inclusion ahead of Rio Ngumoha but justified his selection with a superb pass that dissected the Everton defence and found Salah sprinting unmarked into the area on the far side. The Egypt international dispatched a clinical finish under Pickford for his ninth goal in a Merseyside derby. Only Ian Rush (25) and Steven Gerrard (10) have scored more in the fixture for Liverpool.

The breakthrough changed the complexion of the contest. Liverpool controlled the remainder of the first half and performed with a confidence in possession that had been missing previously. Gakpo forced Pickford into a fingertip save from distance and Alexander Isak steered a decent opening from a Florian Wirtz pass straight at the Everton keeper. It was Isak’s only contribution of note before being replaced by Ngumoha in the 73rd minute.

Liverpool’s authority did not last long into the second half. Everton needed half-time to regroup and soon drew level when Dewsbury-Hall chased Vitalii Mykolenko’s ball down the left. The midfielder controlled well on his chest before sweeping a dangerous cross along the face of the Liverpool goal. Beto, holding off Andy Robertson, arrived first to slide home the equaliser. The striker collided with Mamardashvili on the follow-up and the Liverpool goalkeeper was eventually taken off on a stretcher with a serious-looking knee injury. Slot was forced to hand third choice keeper, Freddie Woodman, his league debut for the club.

Beto would later depart with a head injury and, with Barry inept, the danger from Everton went with him. Neither side had seriously threatened a winner until Liverpool regained control in the final minutes. Everton were weakened by the departure on a stretcher of Branthwaite, in tears after suffering yet another hamstring injury, and were punished when Szoboszlai’s shot deflected out for a corner. Van Dijk proved the strongest man in the box and, just like his late winner against Everton on his Liverpool debut, tormented the local rivals once again.