Liverpool: Reds fans in dreamland but huge summer ahead for Arne Slot
In a season to forget, these Liverpool Fans at the corner of Hill Dickinson Stadium will never forget this afternoon on the banks of the River Mersey.
3,000 Liverpool fans went wild as Virgil van Dijk scored the winner in the 100th minute.
Liverpool had once again secured a victory in extra time against their local rivals. For the sixth time in Premier League history, to be exact.
In this game last season, Everton were celebrating an extra-time equalizer when James Tarkowski scored in the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Whatever happens now, Liverpool will always have the bragging rights of the first derby at Hill Dickinson.
On an afternoon in the Merseyside sun, they won’t care one bit about the struggles they’ve endured this season.
Everton came into this game with real belief but it was Liverpool who took a surprise lead through Mohamed Salah to weather the initial storm and they deserve credit for their work on set-pieces in training; This paid off as Van Dijk got on the end of Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner and took advantage of Everton’s weakness identified in the days leading up to the game.
Crucially, Arne Slot’s side now look set to secure Champions League football for next season and the Dutchman has his two most senior players to thank for one of Liverpool’s biggest victories this season.
“At the end of the day, the players who have been great performers for Liverpool Football Club for so long have achieved success. Virgil van Dijk did it again, it was Mohamed Salah who did it again and broke Everton’s hearts,” said Pat Nevin on 5 Live.
Nevin said: “That goal probably gave Liverpool what they needed – and what they need is Champions League football. They will bring in a lot of players next season – yes, the name of Liverpool Football Club means a lot and that will attract a lot of players to them, but the Champions League helps. It really helps and I think they will get that from Virgil van Dijk from then on.”
On days like these, the result will overshadow everything, but Slot and Liverpool will be aware of the magnitude of the task ahead of them.
The main reason why they want to guarantee football in the Champions League is that Chelsea have lost the last four Premier League matches and none of the following teams can catch up with Liverpool, who have lost 10 league matches this season.
If the hierarchy chooses to stick with Slot, then clear questions arise. Can this Liverpool team take on a real identity? What needs to be done in defense? How do you get the most out of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak? And perhaps most importantly of all, how can Liverpool survive without Salah?
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: “Not getting a place in the Champions League is a disaster for Liverpool and today’s win goes a long way to getting them into that league.
“I think every win for Liverpool is important now, whether it’s fake or fake, it doesn’t matter how they do it because the pressure is on.
“They are not playing well and look disorganized. They gave up chances today and were second best in the first half.”
