Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM — Virgil van Dijk emerged as the hero for Liverpool, scoring a dramatic 100th-minute header to secure a 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
The match, the first-ever Merseyside derby held at the newly opened Hill Dickinson Stadium, appeared headed for a draw before Dominik Szoboszlai’s in-swinging corner found the Liverpool captain.
Okay News reports that Van Dijk held off James Tarkowski to nod home from six yards, sparking wild celebrations in the away end and moving Arne Slot’s side seven points clear of Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.
The afternoon was charged with emotion as Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson were pushed forward to lead the post-match celebrations in what is expected to be their final derby appearances for the Reds. Former Everton winger Pat Nevin, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, noted that while a draw might have been the “fair result,” the clinical nature of Salah and Van Dijk proved the difference in breaking Everton hearts.
Everton had fought valiantly throughout the contest, but the defeat leaves them reflecting on missed opportunities in their new home. For Liverpool, the victory provides a massive boost to their pursuit of top-tier European football for next season.
The result sets the stage for a critical end to the Premier League campaign, with Liverpool now firmly in the driver’s seat for a top-five finish.
