Van Dijk nets dramatic 100th-minute header to secure Liverpool's win over Everton in Merseyside clash

Although the setting had changed the Everton supporters still generated the classic Goodison Park vibe ahead of the match starting.

David Moyes team came close to an ideal opening when Beto nodded the ball towards goal only for Giorgi Mamardashvili to dive and parry it clear.

The keeper from Georgia then stopped James Garners curling free kick and Beto blazed over from close range after breaking through alone as Everton dominated the initial exchanges.

Liverpool did not manage their opening attempt until the 21st minute with Cody Gakpos shot deflected away by James Tarkowski.

The visitors found themselves on the back foot yet the contest shifted with two key moments just three minutes apart around the halfway mark.

To begin Iliman Ndiaye believed he had put Everton ahead in the 27th minute but VAR intervention disallowed it because Jake OBrien was slightly offside during the move preventing Ndiaye from becoming the inaugural scorer in a derby at this venue.

Instead that milestone belonged to Mohamed Salah shortly afterwards as the forward collected Cody Gakpos superb through ball to slot home and equal Steven Gerrards record of nine Premier League strikes in this rivalry.

Gakpo nearly made it two just before the interval after drifting in and firing a bending shot that Jordan Pickford clawed away from the top corner.

The second period saw Liverpool pressing forward but the balance altered again ten minutes in when Beto tapped in Kiernan Dewsbury Halls driven delivery for his eighth league strike this campaign.

Mamardashvili picked up an injury during the collision and was substituted by Freddie Woodman who debuted in the Premier League for Liverpool and marked his return to elite football after a gap since September 2021.

From that point the match became more expansive with Gakpo having a header hooked away by Tarkowski and Ndiaye forcing a save from Woodman after a powerful effort from an acute position.

A tardy knock to Jarrad Branthwaite led to eleven added minutes at the end and Liverpool struck in the 100th as Van Dijk rose to convert Dominik Szoboszlais corner for a late triumph.

This result reduces the scrutiny on beleaguered manager Arne Slot while marking Liverpools third consecutive success against their neighbours a feat not achieved since 2017.

Everton sit just a single point behind Chelsea in sixth keeping their continental aspirations alive though this heartbreaking loss stings deeply and they have managed only one victory from their last four outings.