The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Van Dijk heads in derby winner
£75 million defender nets late goal to earn Liverpool Anfield win over Everton
Virgil van Dijk enjoyed a dream debut for Liverpool by heading the winner in front of the Kop in the 230th Merseyside derby as they knocked Everton out of the FA Cup.
On a feisty night under the Anfield lights, the world’s most expensive defender proved he can be effective at both ends of the pitch by nodding in an 84th-minute corner to make it 2-1.
The Holland international becomes the first player to score a winner at Anfield in an FA Cup tie against Everton at the fifth time of asking – the previous four ties at the ground had all been draws
The former Celtic star, who completed his move from Southampton earlier this week, said on BBC: “Playing at Anfield for Liverpool is a dream for every player I think.
“That’s come true and scoring a goal is even more special.
“What a night, fully deserved, obviously. It felt amazing to be out there, playing with these guys.
“The goal was very special for me and obviously for my family as well.”
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 67th-minute goal had earlier cancelled out James Milner’s first-half penalty in a blood-and-thunder contest which threatened to be tainted by a first-half flare-up between Mason Holgate and Roberto Firmino.
The atmosphere seemed to crackle at kick-off and the early stages suggested this was an old-fashioned derby, with tackles flying in– mostly from the visitors – and Wayne Rooney booked after just seven minutes.
Aside from a James Milner volley flying across goal and wide there was very little in way of actual goal threat until Adam Lallana turned Holgate and the young defender stuck out an arm to impede the Liverpool midfielder.
In the same area where Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin won a controversial penalty in last month’s 1-1 draw after Dejan Lovren laid a hand on him, referee Madley had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Milner fired straight down the middle.
The rest of the first half passed without incident until the flare-up between Holgate and Firmino.
The Toffees defender shoved his opponent into the front row of the stand, provoking an angry reaction from the Brazilian, a melee and the two protagonists exchanging angry words.
However, referee Bobby Madley, despite being in the thick of it, chose to take no action against either player.
Itmayhaveallbeenamisunderstanding but it provided extra motivation for the visitors, with a markedly improved performance after the interval as even Liverpool’s new £75 million signing could not help them keep a clean sheet.
Early in the second half the Reds threatened to overrun their neighbours with Joe Gomez heading a corner wide, Lallana poking a shot just past the post when presented with a clean run on goal and Andy Robertson and Van Dijk both denied by Jordan Pickford.
Everton replaced a pumped-up Rooney with Ademola Lookman soon after the restart.
Just like a month ago, Liverpool were made to pay for missing chances as an improving Everton launched a counterattack from a corner which ended with Phil Jagielka teeing up Sigurdsson to place a shot past a static Loris Karius.
Van Dijk had the final word, however, to give manager Jurgen Klopp his first FA Cup win at the fifth time of asking, while also setting a new unwanted record for Everton, who have now gone 16 derbies without a win.
Everton last night announced the signing of Turkey striker Cenk Tosun on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of £27 million.