LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk celebrates in front of the travelling supporters 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)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk celebrates in front of the travelling supporters 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)
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah came to the fore for Liverpool as the Reds won 2-1 at Everton, and their influence took plenty of the watching media’s focus.
The Premier League champions stunned their rivals on Sunday afternoon, with Van Dijk’s 100th-minute header one of the highlights of the season.
Here’s how the media reacted to a huge Liverpool victory.
The Reds weren’t great, but the result was significant
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk kisses the badge as he celebrates with team-mate Curtis Jones (L) after scoring his side's second 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)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk kisses the badge as he celebrates with team-mate Curtis Jones (L) after scoring his side's second 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)
David Lynch felt it was a “huge” day for both Liverpool and Arne Slot, just when a draw looked likely:
“I was about to describe that as a decent point for Liverpool and praise a performance that was big on fight, if a little low on quality.
“But then up popped Virgil van Dijk to seal a win that is huge for the Champions League race and perhaps Arne Slot as well.”
Paul Joyce of the Times said this was payback for last season’s late James Tarkowski goal:
“If Everton had ever wondered just how Liverpool must have felt on that night 14 months ago when David Moyes’s side scored at the death before celebrating loud and proud, then now they know.
“James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute volley may have gone down in this game’s folklore even if it only rescued a point, but so will Virgil van Dijk’s header in the tenth minute of stoppage time, given it brought with it far more than a treasured piece of history.”
The Daily Mail‘s Ian Ladyman reflected that it’s been some time since late drama unfolded in the Reds’ favour:
“Different stadium, same feels. That pretty much summed it up.
“It seemed as though there would be no more drama but we were wrong. Liverpool came out on the right side of it for once and it has been a while.”
The Independent‘s Chris McKenna noted it wasn’t a telling performance, but one that moves them one step closer:
“It wasn’t a performance that shows they’re on their way back to their best, but it was a result – and a momentum-building moment – which puts them closer to ensuring they will play against the best sides in Europe again next term.
“They’re now seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea with five games to go and, given the London club’s form, Arne Slot’s side are in a seriously strong position.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk scores 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)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk scores 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)
Andy Hunter of the Guardian brilliantly underlined Liverpool’s ability to torment Everton, even at their worst:
“For all the justified criticism that Liverpool have received, they still possess the quality to torment their local rivals in novel ways.”
On BBC Sport, ex-Reds man Danny Murphy discussed the importance of the win, but admitted the performance was lacking:
“Not being in a Champions League spot is a catastrophe for Liverpool and that win today goes a long way to putting them in it.
“I think every win for Liverpool is important at the moment, by hook or by crook – it doesn’t matter how they do it because the pressure is on.
“They are not playing well and they do look disjointed. They gave up chances today and they were second best in the first half.”
The day belonged to two all-time Liverpool greats
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah touches the badge as he 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)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah touches the badge as he 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)
BBC Sport‘s Aadam Patel thought Liverpool’s big guns Van Dijk and Salah were key:
“It was fitting that two of the most senior players stepped up in a fixture that is always one of the biggest of the season.
“The sight of the players enjoying themselves with the travelling support was a positive sight for Liverpool, given the struggles they have endured their season.
“From here on, Liverpool should secure Champions League football and there is no doubt that this win will live long in the memory.”
Speaking on Sky Sports, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher thought exactly the same:
“When you think of how Liverpool have won this game – two of the absolute legends of the club have done it. They won’t be here much longer. Salah and probably Van Dijk in 12 months’ time.
“Two of the absolute greats. Salah has done it again against Liverpool’s biggest rivals, as he always does.
“Against Everton or Man Utd, you can always rely upon him.”
Most Premier League goals scored by defenders since Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool:
? 25 – Virgil van Dijk
? 20 – Gabriel Magalhães
? 18 – Fabian Schär
He's just one of five players to score 20+ headers in that time alongside Chris Wood, Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin… pic.twitter.com/JZ0NtquAVR
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 19, 2026
The ESPN‘s Beth Lindop also highlighted the significance of the Reds’ cornerstones:
“Liverpool needed that. After a season of turmoil, Liverpool needed Virgil van Dijk to rise the highest. They needed Mohamed Salah to conjure up just one more magical moment. They needed a reason to believe.
“It has not been a vintage Salah season by any stretch of the imagination — and it will be his last — but the sight of the Egypt international being “crowned” by teammate Curtis Jones after carving out another slice of history seemed like a poignant footnote in one of the all-time great Anfield careers.”
Salah was also the focus for The i Paper‘s Daniel Storey as his farewell tour continued:
“Liverpool’s wavering form and Champions League exit, combined with questions over Arne Slot’s future, have rendered Salah’s farewell tour a little unhelpful. The only way for him to flip that narrative is to contribute in the final third. Remarkably this was only Salah’s second league goal away from Anfield since October.
“Thanks to the events of the 100th minute, you suspect that Salah will always remember this one. Liverpool have a grip on a Champions League place again and the Egyptian is theirs for another five months at least.”
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front in his final Merseyside derby before celebrating with Curtis Jones (Nick Potts/PA)
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front in his final Merseyside derby before celebrating with Curtis Jones (Nick Potts/PA)
Opta, meanwhile, shone a spotlight on Salah’s record against the Blues, and Jordan Pickford might be the happiest man on Merseyside that the Egyptian is leaving:
“In his final Merseyside derby, it was Salah’s ninth goal in the fixture in the Premier League. Nobody has scored more such goals than him (level with Steven Gerrard – also nine).
“It also meant Salah has now scored nine goals past Jordan Pickford in the Premier League, with only Harry Kane having scored more against him (14).”
Andy Jones of The Athletic claimed Salah rolled back the years, but Alexander Isak struggled:
“It was the type of goal and performance he has so often produced. There was energy in and out of possession, and while not everything came off, he was constantly looking to be involved.
“It was in contrast to the forward that Liverpool hope will provide those big moments in the future.
“In Alexander Isak’s second start since his ankle injury, he was once again ineffective and looked short of match fitness, managing only nine touches and one shot.”
Football – FA Premier League – Everton FC v Liverpool FC
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)
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