Mohamed Salah speaks out again during Merseyside derby (Image: Getty)
Liverpool scored the winning goal against Everton in the 101st minute in the first-ever Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday. After Mohamed Salah scored his ninth goal against Everton, equaling Steven Gerrard’s club record for the most goals in the Premier League, captain Virgil van Dijk sealed the match just before second-half stoppage time. Salah put the Reds ahead just two minutes after Iliman Ndiaye’s goal was ruled out for offside. A great pass from Kodi Gakpo sent Salah past Jordan Pickford to score.
But Everton equalized nine minutes into the second half when Beto scored from a teasing cross from Keenan Dewsbury-Hall. Despite being rocked by injury to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamadashvili, Everton were unable to truly trouble Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, with Van Dijk heading deep from a corner kick in stoppage time. This victory was of great significance for Liverpool, who will qualify for next season’s Champions League. Express Sport rates and predicts the Reds…
Liverpool vs Everton player ratings
Giorgi Mamadashvili – 7
He made some sensational early saves to thwart Beto’s attack and his distribution was better than in midweek, but he was injured and carried off on a stretcher before time was up, another devastating blow for Liverpool.
James Garner allowed Beto to cross in an early chance, but the defense was better after that. In the first half, Gakpo almost made it 2-0 with an important touch to stop Beto from going one-on-one and a great long ball. Stable performance from the original position.
They had one chance in the first half when they allowed Beto to run in behind, but he did well to tip Jake O’Brien offside before Iliman Ndiaye’s goal was ruled out. However, Keenan Dewsbury-Hall’s run and cross caught up with them and leveled the score. Some dodgy defending almost gave Everton a chance, but they recovered to deny Dewsbury-Hall in the box.
Liverpool were in the perfect position and scored the winning goal at the last gasp. He was dominant in the air and had a solid approach defensively. Beto didn’t look as flustered as he did in the same game at Goodison Park last season and the Everton striker’s equalizer was no fault of his.
He played well in the final Merseyside derby, producing some great cross-field passes. However, he was too weak against Beto to score the equalizer and inadvertently fouled his own goalkeeper. In the second half, he hit a shot wide of the target.
Mixed performance in and out of possession. We were very lucky not to get a yellow card in the first half, but especially in the second half, we made some mistakes in judgment when we had the ball at our feet.
Liverpool players celebrate Mohamed Salah’s opening goal (Image: Getty)
Virgil van Dijk celebrates victory with defunct Liverpool (Image: Getty)
He worked hard as usual and was really solid defensively, but maybe wasn’t as influential in the final third as he would have liked. That was until Van Dijk scored the winning goal when his shot deflected wide at the death, resulting in a corner kick. It was his shot that was the winner for the Dutchman.
He was very good in the last derby. He looked sharp and showed his performance by scoring points after starting both legs of the game against PSG. He put Liverpool up 1-0 with a brilliant finish and then fought hard without the ball. Gakpo’s header was a great cross but was cleared on the line.
They were very sloppy with the ball for the first 30 minutes, but they started to get used to it even more. A well-weighted pass to Gakpo created a chance soon after Everton’s goal was canceled out, and his shot found Isak before being saved. But even then the quality was only achieved with very short flashes and it was strangely scary to shoot at times.
He played on the left side after being favored by Rio Ngmoja. He forced Jordan Pickford into several saves and provided the perfect pass for Salah’s goal. James Tarkowski scored the second goal on the line, denying himself a goal, but moved up to the front after the less influential Isak was sent off.
An almost unknown first half with only 5 touches. His only shot before the break hit Pickford squarely in the hand, but his lack of sharpness showed in the second half, as he was easily run over by the ball.
substitute
Freddie Woodman (Mamadashvili representative, 57 years old) – 7
He made his Premier League debut for Liverpool, coming off the bench. Solid and made a good save from Ndiaye.
Rio Ngmoha (Isak’s substitute, 72) – 5
One shot was blocked, but he fired another deep into stoppage time. I had to do better with that chance.
Alexis Mac Allister (transferred to Wirths, 83) – 5
Gave some fouls. That was it.
Jeremy Frimpong (Gakpo representative, 83) – 5
Milos Kerkes (substitute for Robertson, 86) – 5
See above. Except for the clever dummy who takes Ngumoha’s late chances.
