Virgil van Dijk scored the winner 10 minutes into stoppage time to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory for Liverpool at Everton – and picks up the Man of the Match award!
Everton 1-2 Liverpool
Premier League (33) | Hill Dickinson Stadium
April 19, 2026
Goals: Salah 29′, Van Dijk 90+10′; Beto 54′
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 6 (out of 10)
Wasn’t afforded time to ease himself into the game, making a superb reflex save to keep out Beto’s header early on.
He also denied James Garner from distance, before being substituted before the hour mark due to injury during the goal.
Poor pass in the lead up to it.
Curtis Jones – 7
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones challenges Everton's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (R) during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Used at right-back, Jones was a mixed bag at Everton‘s new home.
On the ball he was guilty of being sloppy and holding onto it for too long, but he was dogged in his defensive duties in an auxiliary role.
Really good in the latter exchanges, driving forward, which gets him an extra mark.
Ibrahima Konate – 5
Konate was again erratic, with the Frenchman guilty of losing Beto for the chance Mamardashvili saved.
While he showed physical dominance, he was so lethargic for the equaliser, showing no intensity against Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
A mistake never felt too far away.
Virgil van Dijk – 8 (Man of the Match)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk puts his hand to his ear as he celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with a header during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Talk about a captain delivering in the derby!
Van Dijk was excellent all day, impressing aerially and captaining Liverpool well in a tough environment.
Then he goes and scores a last-gasp winner to seal one of the Reds’ best three points of the season. A true legend.
Andy Robertson – 6
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo (R) points to Andy Robertson after the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. Liverpool won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Robertson justified his selection in his final Merseyside derby.
The most impressive aspect of his play was his pinpoint long-range passing, opening up the pitch and allowing Liverpool to counter-attack.
Never stopped battling defensively, but slightly slow in getting to Beto for his goal.
Ryan Gravenberch – 6
One of many Liverpool players to make an awful start and then grow into the game.
He was poor in and out of possession to begin with, and was lucky not to be booked after a string of fouls.
Used his power to maraud through the midfield at one point, though, and had some moments of real quality with his touch.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai applauds the travelling supporters as he goes to take a corner kick during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Szoboszlai was again not at his level but he produced a dependable performance overall.
He worked hard but struggled to make much of an impact in the attacking third, with a long season catching up with him.
It was however his deflected shot which earned the corner he then took to assist Van Dijk’s winner.
Florian Wirtz – 5
For the first 30 minutes or so Wirtz looked as though he didn’t realise he was playing in a Merseyside derby, looking horribly off the pace.
His passing was weak and he got robbed of the ball several times, but there were still moments of class, including a lovely ball to Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool’s £116 million man is clearly an enormous talent, but you are left wanting more too often.
Mohamed Salah – 7
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Salah looked hungry all afternoon, producing some nice trickery down the right flank.
He nervelessly fired Liverpool into the lead in front of the away fans, sending them wild, showing that class is permanent.
No Reds player has more derby goals in the Premier League.
Cody Gakpo – 7
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after his side scores the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This was so much more like it from Gakpo, who was Liverpool’s most impressive attacking player.
His assist for Salah’s goal was one of the best of the season, and he was a threat cutting inside, forcing Jordan Pickford into an important save.
Faced late on, but did well overall.
Alexander Isak – 4
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak reacts to seeing his shot saved during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Isak is a hard watch right now, looking like a shadow of the world-class striker at Newcastle.
Had nine touches in 72 minutes, with one weak shot on goal, three completed passes and only one of his seven duels won.
He needs the summer more than anyone.
Overall Team Performance – 6
Substitutes
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool substitute goalkeeper Freddie Woodman receives final instructions before coming on for his debut in the league during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Freddie Woodman (on for Mamardashvili, 58′) – 6
Thrown into a hugely pressurised situation, denied Iliman Ndiaye.
Rio Ngumoha (on for Isak, 72′) – 6
Huge chance to score a last-gasp winner before Van Dijk’s goal, but skied it. Lively.
Alexis Mac Allister (on for Wirtz, 83′) – 6
Collided with Jake O’Brien – that was about it.
Jeremie Frimpong (on for Gakpo, 83′) – 6
No time to make a real impact, but offered pace down the right.
Milos Kerkez (on for Robertson, 86′) – N/A
Subs not used: Pecsi, Nyoni, Chiesa
Arne Slot – 6
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot (L) speaks to Alexander Isak following his side conceding the equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
After Liverpool’s Champions League elimination, Slot will have known how much pressure was on him going into the game.
His starting lineup made sense, throwing some experienced players in for the derby, but there were still deficiencies in the performance.
For much of the first half Everton looked like they wanted it more, and the 1-0 scoreline at the break shouldn’t mask that.
Still, Liverpool got over the line, which always takes some doing against the Blues, and Slot deserved credit for his side nicking it in the dying seconds.
Remains under pressure, but a big win in the Champions League race – and for local bragging rights.