Liverpool ground out a 1-0 victory over Everton in the Merseyside Derby after Beto was unable to take advantage of a rare Virgil van Dijk misstep in the first half
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Updated 16:02, 03 Apr 2025
Virgil van Dijk and Beto battling it out at Anfield
Virgil van Dijk and Beto battling it out at Anfield(Image: Getty Images)
If you were watching at home, you probably had to check one or two TV replays before believing your eyes. When the relief of seeing Beto’s strike hit the inside of the post and not go into Caoimhin Kelleher ’s net had subsided, Liverpool fans looked at one another in puzzlement.
Virgil van Dijk had just made a mistake so basic that it was almost comical. The Liverpool skipper, imperious all season long, attempted a clearance, took an air shot and gifted Beto the chance to put Everton ahead in Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby.
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“In football sometimes you can make mistakes, no-one plays football without making mistakes,” smiled Van Dijk, whose reaction to his side’s 1-0 win was unusually, if briefly, emotional. And while he played down his exuberant celebration, Van Dijk clearly saw the result as a response to those who thought Liverpool might be heading for a period of struggle after their Champions League exit and defeat in the Carabao Cup final.
“It's a funny world. There were doubts outside all of a sudden but the fact is there are eight games to go, there is a 12-point gap, and we focus on putting points on the board and playing the best football we can play,” Van Dijk said. “But if we have to fight, we have to fight.”
Beto’s miss meant that Kelleher - deputising for Alisson, who was ruled out by concussion protocols - was able to clean sheet and further advertise his talent to clubs looking to sign him in the summer. With Kelleher wanting a starting place, it seems certain he will leave Anfield, but when asked what advice he would give the Irishman, Van Dijk - with a reference to himself and the others out of contract - replied: “Be a Premier League champion. And that's what the aim is for the rest of the season. What happens after the season, we will see then.
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“But he has a big job on his hands now, whether he starts or to make sure Ali is ready. We all have to fight to get our big dream ready. We have to run, we have to out-work opponents”
While a clean sheet was again the basis of another Premier League win, the victory over Everton came courtesy of a Diogo Jota goal, his first in three months. But Van Dijk could clearly sense it had been on its way, saying: “He came back very sharp from Portugal, was good in training, so for him it was a case of just keep going, stay important.
"We know how much work he does in order to be important and his goal was important. We know how good he can be and he showed it with his goal. His work-rate and quality on the ball was good too.”
Diogo Jota celebrating his winner against Everton
Diogo Jota celebrating his winner against Everton(Image: PA)
As well as Jota, Van Dijk believes the international break - even though it meant a couple of games for most players - might have done his team-mates good in the wake of the Wembley defeat to Newcastle.
He said: “I liked it. It was a tough week for me personally with two difficult games so everyone had their own situation but what was good was that we could get away for a couple of days, switch off completely, and then get back on it.”
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