As Liverpool’s players made their way towards the newly-ordained away end at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, there was finally some sense of unity.
Much has been said about the lack of connection between club and fans of late – and they are serious concerns – but in this moment, we were one.
Amazing what a win can do, isn’t it? These were no ordinary three points, though.
With Liverpool out of the running in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, the first Merseyside derby on the Mersey’s side held extra significance.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones pushes team-mate Mohamed Salah (L) to celebrate in front of the travelling supporter 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)
While the importance of the fixture to the Blues has sometimes been used to taunt our neighbours, there could be no denying this was now Liverpool’s cup final.
Yes, qualification for the Champions League is the mid-term goal – thankfully, that looks nearly secure – but as Arne Slot said after the match, this meant more than the points.
“We are, as everyone can understand, focused on qualifying for the Champions League,” said the Dutchman.
“But I think in the lead-up to this game it was not as much about the league table, it’s also about representing Liverpool and four days ago we paid our respect for the enormous tragedy that happened in Hillsborough.
“But we also use this for the game today because it’s a privilege to represent this club and today they showed what it means to the players to represent this club.
“And the fans were, as they’ve been throughout the whole season, a big, big, big support for us, and to beat them then in the first game in their new stadium after what I just said, the week we had, is an enormous compliment to everybody involved in Liverpool FC.”
A 7-point gap to sixth
Though the Reds’ progression to the quarter-finals is part of the reason for England’s strong coefficient, Liverpool are lucky that five English teams will qualify for the Champions League.
As an older Evertonian repeatedly explains at family gatherings, it shouldn’t be called the ‘Champions’ League when there are so few league champions in the competition.
Of course, Liverpool did go into Europe as league winners this season, but should a quarter of England’s top-flight really be in the tournament?
Current PL Position
5th Place
55 Points | 33 Games Played
Date Opponent Venue
Apr 25 Crystal Palace HOME
May 3 Man United AWAY
May 9 Chelsea HOME
May 17 Aston Villa AWAY
May 24 Brentford HOME
Data updated as of April 20, 2026
Anyway, that debate is for another day. Liverpool have been given their circumstances and, despite a tricky run of fixtures to finish the campaign, they are in a good position to do their job.
With a seven-point cushion on sixth-place Chelsea, the Reds still need to win their home games and that is by no means a given this season.
However, the Londoners’ faltering form means they are even less likely to put a run together, and it is difficult to see Brighton, Brentford, Bournemouth or Everton making up more than seven points in five matches.
Instead, they are likely now looking at Europa League qualification as a target, with just three points separating Chelsea in sixth and Fulham in 12th.
Big games give Liverpool something to play for
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 1, 2024: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Liverpool won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It mightn’t have been exciting for fans, but even without the prospect of silverware, until very recently we expected something to be riding on the final games of the campaign.
With Chelsea losing and Liverpool winning at the weekend, though, there now exists the possibility that Champions League qualification is wrapped up with a couple of games to spare.
Though, in fairness, that may be an optimistic view when you consider the Reds had won just two of their previous six domestic matches prior to beating Everton.
The celebratory scenes after the final whistle on Sunday felt like a moment from which to build, even if Liverpool’s performance didn’t really mirror the result.
This has been a campaign devoid of joyous occasions. In fact, this was arguably the Reds’ best moment since Rio Ngumoha‘s winner at Newcastle more than eight months ago.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front in his final Merseyside derby before celebrating with Curtis Jones (Nick Potts/PA)
Even during the latter days of Rafa Benitez, Kenny Dalglish‘s tenure, Brendan Rodgers’ stint and the early Jurgen Klopp days, Liverpool always went toe-to-toe with their rivals.
This season, they got the better of Arsenal, but losses against Man United, Man City and Chelsea have left supporters with few great days out.
The manner of defeats against Man City in particular left Liverpool fans feeling helpless.
The belief gained from a win over Everton, albeit a mid-table side, could give Liverpool the confidence to go and challenge Man United, Chelsea and Aston Villa in their upcoming games.
If fans were to enjoy a couple of memorable victories in the remaining weeks of an otherwise grim year, it would go some way to repairing the relationship between supporters and the squad.
Slot’s position would still be questioned, players will still come and go, but there would at least be some faith that Liverpool can become fun to watch again.
After all, following a football team is about moments and memories.