David Moyes sat in his chair and looked blankly out into the distance. Around him, a stadium that had once been buoyant was emptying except for one delirious pocket of red in the far corner.
It was the look of someone who taps their blazer pocket and discovers their wallet has been pilfered, a moment where the colour drains from their face as reality clamps hold: how could it happen? Why is it happening to us?
Everton have endured plenty of last-minute heartache in these local squabbles but this one stung more acutely. The first Merseyside derby at their palatial home was supposed to end joyously on the banks of the Royal Blue River Mersey but along came those old warhorses to blow dreams to smithereens.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have, by some consensus, been pale imitations of their old selves in this most draining campaign but class, remember, endures. What a time for them to turn back the clock and, in doing so, give Moyes nightmares for the next week.
Van Dijk was responsible for the dramatic conclusion to this contest, rising in the 100th minute to head in a Dominik Szoboszlai corner, but Salah was just as influential with a finish that was so clinical and so important that Curtis Jones felt compelled to place an imaginary crown on his head.
The next few weeks will be emotional for the “Egyptian King”, as he brings the curtain down on his Liverpool career, but here was a reminder of why the idea of finding someone who will simply roll into town and do what he has done is a nonsense.
He has been consumed by the idea of breaking records since he arrived at the club in 2017 and here were two more notable entries into the history books: the first Merseyside derby goal at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and a strike that means he is level with Steven Gerrard as the leading scorer in the league fixture since the inception of the Premier League, with nine goals.
His left-footed finish, swatted past Jordan Pickford in the 29th minute following a beautiful ball from Cody Gakpo, changed the shape of a contest that Everton had been dominating and came just 148 seconds after Moyes thought his team had taken the lead through Iliman Ndiaye.
Pandemonium greeted the strike, a noise that shook the stadium, but VAR ruled, correctly, that Jake O’Brien was offside when he ran onto the ball from which he would cross to the Senegalese. As frustrating as it was, it would be exacerbated 10-fold when Liverpool went up the pitch.
“There will be a lot of words coming out of my mouth in the next couple of weeks about him [Salah],” said Van Dijk. “But he’s so important for us, on and off the pitch. The appreciation sometimes comes when players are gone but we appreciate him so much.
“He’s an outstanding team-mate to have. We have been through everything together, high and lows. He will still be important for the last five games we have to play. He means a lot to me, to the team and the fans. But, first, we still have a job to do. He knows it – that’s the main focus.”
The job, of course, is qualifying for the Champions League next season and, in all likelihood, this should turn out to be the decisive weekend. No matter how bad Liverpool have been, they should be able to protect a seven-point advantage over a rotten Chelsea team with five games left.
Without these old stagers, however, how different might it have been? Everton, in that opening 25 minutes, were everything you would expect to see when Moyes gees his players up. They were organised, relentless and controlled, playing at a tempo to whip the locals into a frenzy.
Taking the lead would have been enormous and it would not have been wrong to be sceptical about Liverpool’s chances of coming back. They have consistently struggled against physical teams, inviting questions about their character. One goal can often send Arne Slot’s men under.
You wondered, even, whether they would submerge in the second period when Everton levelled. Liverpool’s defending, not for the first time, was not what it should have been and the lively Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall easily rolled Ibrahima Konate to set up the chance for Beto in the 64th minute.
Giorgi Mamardashvili, Liverpool’s goalkeeper, was injured in the process and that led to a Premier League debut for Freddie Woodman, Sir Gareth Southgate’s godson and son of Andy Woodman, who this weekend steered Bromley to League One promotion, but – and this irked Moyes – Everton could not put him under sufficient pressure to expose the nerves that fizzed through him.
Beto, critically, was also withdrawn injured shortly after – Thierno Barry, his replacement, had what can kindly be described as an inauspicious cameo – as was Jarrad Branthwaite, who left the stadium with his leg in a brace after doing significant damage to his hamstring.
All those delays led to a mammoth 11 minutes being added on and while Liverpool seemed to have ridden out the storm, the idea that they would go on and snatch a win seemed far-fetched. Van Dijk, nonetheless had different ideas, with a colossal header that eases some of the pressure on Slot.
“The debut goal was the perfect night,” Van Dijk said, referring to a similar header, in front of the Kop, against Everton in the FA Cup in January 2018. “But this was massive in the situation that we are in, in the hunt for the Champions League spots.
“That is definitely not Liverpool-worthy, in my opinion, but it is the reality. It was important we got the win. I’m glad we did.”
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Furious Moyes hits out at Liverpool penalty decision
David Moyes was furious that Everton were denied a penalty during the last-gasp defeat in the Merseyside derby.
There was an incident late in the first half when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was sent sprawling by Curtis Jones, the Liverpool midfielder who was playing as a makeshift right-back. Neither referee Chris Kavanagh nor VAR Paul Howard felt an infringement had been made.
Moyes, though, saw things differently. He was enraged when the decision wasn’t given in normal time, remonstrating with fourth official Andrew Madley, and his emotions were exacerbated given the way in which Everton lost.
“I do [think it was a penalty], yeah,” said Moyes. “Why would he go down if he’s not? You might say it could go down as a soft contact or whatever but, well, if he touches him at all, why would he not [take the chance to shoot], he’s in on goal to shoot and finish, why would he not take the opportunity to do that?”
It was an enormously frustrating day for the Scot, who saw Jarrad Branthwaite go down with a serious hamstring issue. He left the stadium with his right leg in a brace.
“I’m worried,” he added. “It doesn’t look good.”
Arne Slot, by contrast, was hugely relieved about three points that enable Liverpool to take a firm grip of a place in the top five but there was, inevitably, a sting in the tail as Giorgi Mamardashvili suffered an injury that may keep him out of next Saturday’s Premier League date with Crystal Palace.
The Georgian went to hospital after being taken off on a stretcher and was replaced by third choice Freddie Woodman.
“Giorgi had to go to hospital [with] a big wound so let’s see how he will be,” said Slot. “But Freddie deserves a lot of credit because if you have to come in after conceding the 1-1 and the fans were ready for it but he did his job really well.
“He kept his calm in a difficult moment when he was doubting whether to catch the ball, yes or no, but kept his nerves. He’s worked so hard to have this moment and usually third goalkeepers don’t play a lot but in a season like ours, I think if you are playing in the under-8s at Liverpool, you should be ready for making your debut because it is unbelievable what is happening to us.”
Post-match thoughts of Everton’s Jake O’Brien
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“Lost for words really, I thought we played well for the majority of the game and had the better chances. Then let ourselves down with a poor goal at the end. It is not a result that reflects the game, I do not think.”
On going 1-0 down moments after thinking they had gone 1-0 up:
“Coming into a game like this is huge. Moments in a game can go for or against you but we stayed in it. Moments can be capitalised on and they scored a goal at the end that was really poor. I think we played well and the atmosphere was really good. It was a small moment that let us down, I think we were the better team on the day.”
On European qualification hopes:
“There are still a few games to go and we are right in it. The table is very tight.”
Virgil van Dijk speaking to Sky Sports
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“It was nothing like my debut goal [also against Everton]. That was the perfect night for me, but today it was massive in the situation we are in, where we are in the hunt for the Champions League spots. That is definitely not Liverpool-worthy in my opinion, but it is the reality and it was important we got the win today and I am glad we did.
“We have got five more games left against teams that are also fighting for the Champions League spots. Every game is a big one and we are very disappointed as a whole for the season we are having because, with the quality we have, it is below standards. But we have to keep fighting, keep going and make the best out of this difficult season we are having. That is the reality, but onto the next.”
Post-match thoughts of Mohamed Salah
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“It feels great. The most important thing was to help the team to settle down and feel more confident. We knew before the game it was going to be tricky, it was going to be difficult and I am glad we managed to win. I just want to keep scoring and help the team to the Champions League. Hopefully I can say farewell in the right way.”
Liverpool’s final five matches
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April 25: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
May 3: Manchester United vs Liverpool
May 9: Liverpool vs Chelsea
May 17: Aston Villa vs Liverpool
May 24: Liverpool vs Brentford
Liverpool play a number of teams in and around them in the table. They have put a seven-point gap between themselves in fifth, the final Champions League place, and Chelsea in sixth.
Everton’s final five league games
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April 25: West Ham vs Everton
May 4: Everton vs Manchester City
May 10: Crystal Palace vs Everton
May 17: Everton vs Sunderland
May 24: Tottenham vs Everton
Everton’s hopes of challenging for the Champions League took a blow today but are still very much in the frame for a European place. Their results will also have significant ramifications at both ends of the table, as they take on title challenges Manchester City as well as relegation-threatened West Ham and Tottenham.
How things stand with five games remaining
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Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool have all won, interestingly all by just the one goal and in the case of the latter two with winners in added time. They have all now put a gap between themselves and Chelsea, who lost to Manchester United last night and would have been devestated to see those two late winners from Villa and Liverpool this afternoon.
Liverpool’s winning moment
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The difference between one point and three points, which could be huge for Liverpool as they look to book their place in the Champions League next season.
Contrast of emotions in one image
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Today’s games
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Everton 1 Liverpool 2 FT
Aston Villa 4 Sunderland 3 FT
Nottingham Forest 4 Burnley 1 FT
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
FT stats
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Possession: Everton 44%-56% Liverpool
Shots: 10-14
Shots on target: 4-6
Corners: 1-6
Touches in opposition box: 20-17
Full time
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Van Dijk’s winner with just seconds remaining gives Liverpool all three points in the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. That is a big three points for Arne Slot’s side, who were not completely convincing, in the race for Champions League football next season. Salah and Robertson are victorious in their final Merseyside derbies. Liverpool move seven points clear of Chelsea with just five games remaining.
90+12 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 2
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Garner scythes Jones down and is rightly booked. The final whistle cannot be far away.
GOAL! Van Dijk scores late winner for Liverpool
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As he did on his Liverpool debut back in January 2018, Van Dijk scores a later winner from a corner against Everton as the away fans go bonkers at the other end. With just a minute of added time remaining, Szoboszlai clips in a lovely delivery and Van Dijk shows great strength to win the header from inside the six-yard box and head it home. It will not quite be the last act of the game so Liverpool will still have around 30 seconds to defend. Absolute delirium for Liverpool, absolute despair for Everton.
90+9 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Liverpool are pressing for a winner as Szoboszlai’s shot takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner out on the left...
90+8 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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The ball comes to Ngumoha on the left side of the box and the 17-year-old has a great chance to win it for Liverpool but he fires his first-time effort just over. That was a good, good chance.
90+6 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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This game is there for the taking for both sides but will either take advantage?
90+4 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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There has been another goal at Villa Park, where Aston Villa are back in front and lead Sunderland 4-3.
90 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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We get our answer and there will be 11 minutes of added time. Still plenty of time for either side to find a winner.
89 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Due to the injuries to Mamardashvili and Branthwaite, there will be plenty of added time. You would imagine it will be at least eight or nine minutes.
88 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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There has been a huge comeback at Villa Park, where Sunderland have come from 3-1 down against Aston Villa to bring the game back level at 3-3. That will have ramifications on the race for the Champions League.
86 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Branthwaite is down for Everton and looks pretty uncomfortable as he gets back to his feet. It appears to be an injury to his right hamstring. Like Mamardashvili earlier in the half, a stretcher is being called for and Keane will replace the stricken centre-back.
Liverpool are making their final change of the afternoon as Kerkez replaces Robertson, whose final Merseyside derby appearance comes to an end.
That’s a desperate situation for Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been holding his left hamstring while he awaits a stretcher. The England defender has missed most of this season with hamstring issues and he’s covered his face while being carried off. It doesn’t look like it will be a simple injury.
83 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Double change for Liverpool as Frimpong and Mac Allister replace Wirtz and Gakpo.
80 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Liverpool are doing their best to lose this game as much as Everton are trying to win it. There are 13 minutes remaining and it has the feel of one of those occasions where the defining act is still to be played out. Liverpool look tired, mistakes are creeping into their play and Everton can sense an opportunity. It’s there for them to grasp
79 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Everton are making their second change of the game as George replaces McNeil.
77 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Ngumoha gets a shot away from the left side of the box but his effort is blocked, which takes all the sting out of the shot.
Down the other end, McNeil flashes a ball across the penalty area but Barry is not on the same wavelength as his teammate and the ball flashes through.
75 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Dewsbury-Hall goes down inside the Liverpool penalty area but that is not a foul. Liverpool are not helping themselves at the moment, with that stemming from Konate giving the ball away inside his own half.
72 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Play is halted as Beto has gone down, following a head collision with Konate a few minutes before. Beto will come off to be replaced by Barry.
Liverpool are also making a change as Ngumoha replaces Isak, which will see Gakpo move from out wide left to down the middle.
66 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Robertson, on his final Merseyside derby appearance like Salah, fires from range and he is not far off restoring Liverpool’s lead after a fantastic strike. The game is really opening up and could go either way.
64 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Down one end Liverpool nearly create an opening but the ball gets away from Isak. Then Everton go down the other end and Ndiaye forces Woodman into a save.
62 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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Another tilt in this see-saw, Everton are back in it and the collateral damage of Beto’s equaliser means Freddie Woodman, Liverpool’s third choice goalkeeper, is coming on to replace the stricken Giorgi Mamardashvili. It was a wholly avoidable goal from Liverpool’s behalf, as Mamardashvili gave up possession too easily, Everton attacked and Ibou Konate was outmuscled by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has said on these pages on Friday how he wanted to make an impact on this game. He’s done that.
60 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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A huge clearing header from Tarkowski. Salah and Wirtz exchange a one-two before the former stands up a cross to the back post. Gakpo heads it back towards the far corner but Tarkowski is on hand to head away.
57 mins: Everton 1 Liverpool 1
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A stretcher is being called for as Mamardashvili is going to have to come off. Woodman is going to come on for his Premier League debut. Alisson is out injured and now Mamardashvili has his head in his hands as he is stretchered off. Liverpool cannot catch a break with injuries this season. From Isak to Bradley to Ekitike to Leoni and now Mamardashvili; all picking up serious injuries this season.
GOAL! Beto brings Everton level
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The home side are on level terms, with Mamardashvili down injured. Dewsbury-Hall is played in down the left channel and lays it across the box. Beto outmuscles Robertson to get to it first and pokes it home. Should Robertson have got to that ball ahead of Beto? It ends up with a collision between Beto, Robertson and Mamardashivili, with the last of those down injured.
52 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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Gueye brings down Gravenberch and is a touch fortunate not to be booked for that foul.
51 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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The Everton fans are imploring their side to press higher up the pitch when Liverpool are in possession.
48 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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Aston Villa have doubled their advantage against Sunderland, with Morgan Rogers putting them 3-1 up at Villa Park. If Villa hold to win that game, they would go level on points with Manchester United in third and 10 ahead of Chelsea in sixth.
Second half
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We are back under way at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Both sides are unchanged.
Today’s games
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Everton 0 Liverpool 1 HT
Aston Villa 2 Sunderland 1 HT
Nottingham Forest 0 Burnley 1 HT
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Slot anger
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A funny atmosphere as the half closes. Arne Slot has erupted at referee Chris Kavanagh - he played 13 seconds over the two minutes of added time and Slot would have been like a volcano had Everton profited. The home fans, meanwhile, are understandably subdued. The storm they created has, for the moment at least, blown out.
HT stats
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Possession: Everton 45%-55% Liverpool
Shots: 5-6
Shots on target: 2-4
Corners: 1-5
Touches in opposition box: 9-6
Half-time
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That is it for the first half and Liverpool lead 1-0 at the break. Ndiaye thought he had given Everton the lead, only for it to be ruled out for an offside, before Salah put Liverpool in front minutes later. Liverpool have not been fantastic in that first half but lead.
45+1 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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Wirtz and Isak have been quiet in this half but they link up here. Wirtz finds Isak on the edge of the box and the latter gets his shot away but it is a fairly routine save for Pickford.
45 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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There will be two added minutes at the end of this first half.
42 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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Gakpo, as he did earlier in the half, drives inside from the left and gets his shot away. The Dutchman strikes it well and forces Pickford to tip it over the bar. It was a save Pickford should be making and the Everton keeper made sure he dealt with it. The corner comes to nothing.
39 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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Liverpool have not been great in this first half but they do lead. The likes of Isak and Wirtz have not played prominent roles thus far, in particular the former who has been quiet. Isak has just two touches through nearly 40 minutes.
38 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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In the race for Champions League football, Aston Villa are back in front against Sunderland with Ollie Watkins on the scoresheet again.
33 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 1
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Everton have started this game superbly. The energy and work rate has been exemplary and they will feel aggrieved not to be leading but Jake O’Brien was clearly offside when he crossed for Iliman Ndiaye. The misery has just been exacerbated by Mohamed Salah, who has just equalled Steven Gerrard’s record of nine Premier League goals against Everton.
There was, of course, many, many derbies before the rebranding of the top-flight of English football in 1992 . . .
GOAL! Salah scores in final Merseyside derby appearance
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A few minutes after Everton thought they had taken the lead, Liverpool do hit the front. The visitors have not created much going forward thus far but they do now and take it with aplomb. Everton lose it down their right inside their own half and Gakpo picks it up. He spots the run of Salah into the box and picks him out with a sublime pass. Salah hits it first time and finds the net past Pickford. Salah races off to celebrate his ninth Merseyside derby goal in front of the away fans.
NO GOAL! Ndiaye’s effort ruled out
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The goal is chalked off. O’Brien was in an offside position as the ball was played to him down Everton’s right so it does not count.
GOAL! Ndiaye puts Everton in front
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The hosts take probably a deserved lead as Liverpool appeal for an offside. The ball is played in behind down the right and Branthwaite initially looks to play it. The ball is left for O’Brien, whose cross picks out Ndiaye, who takes a touch and then finds the net. VAR will take a look at whether either Branthwaite or O’Brien were offside...
25 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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Szoboszlai fouls Ndiaye, which causes a mini brawl. No yellow cards shown but it would be interesting to see whether Ndiaye pulled at Szoboszlai’s hair whilst they were tussling on the ground. Following Lisandro Martinez’s red card against Leeds for a hair pull, there is more of a focus on that.
23 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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The first booking of the game goes the way of the home side. After a Van Dijk foul on Gueye, the Everton players are demanding a yellow card but instead Pickford is booked for running out of his to goal to appeal for a yellow card. The foul from Van Dijk did not merit a yellow card.
21 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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Gakpo cuts inside from the left and gets his shot away from just outside the box. It takes a big deflection off Tarkowski’s leg and goes behind for a corner.
Szoboszlai’s corner towards the back post causes problems for Pickford, who punches behind for another Liverpool corner on the other side. Salah sends it in but Branthwaite powerfully heads away from danger.
18 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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After a good move started from their own half, Liverpool win themselves a corner out on the right in front of their fans. Salah whips it into a dangerous area and Konate looks like he might get his head on the end of it but Pickford manages to parry it away.
16 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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Beto has his second decent chance of this half but his shot is fairly dreadful. The ball is played down the left channel in behind the Liverpool defence and Beto keeps himself onside as he makes the run. He opens up his body to try and curl one into the far corner but his effort goes miles wide. The early opportunities are coming from the home side.
15 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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Garner goes for goal and forces Mamardashvili into a fairly routine save. The offside flag has gone up anyway against Beto and Branthwaite, who were in an offside position as the shot was taken and were in Mamardashvili’s view.
14 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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No goals here but there have already been two at Villa Park, where Sunderland have equalised through Chris Rigg.
Gravenberch is penalised for a foul on Gueye not far outside the Liverpool penalty area and Everton will have the opportunity to whip it into the box.
12 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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Everton want a penalty. The ball is played in behind the Liverpool defence and Jones and Dewsbury-Hall go shoulder-to-shoulder. The latter then goes down inside the Liverpool box referee Chris Kavanagh waves those appeals away.
9 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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The first corner of the game goes the way of the visitors, with the final touch coming off McNeil. Szoboszlai has gone off to the left to take it. The corner is clipped in to the near post but Beto is on hand for the hosts to head away.
6 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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Big save from Mamardashvili. Garner is given too much space out on the right to clip in a cross and he picks out Beto in the centre of the Liverpool penalty area. Beto makes good contact on the header and Mamardashvili makes a good diving save down to his left.
4 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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Jones appears to be the one starting at right-back for Liverpool and not Szoboszlai. Jones did start in that position when Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 at Anfield a year ago.
There has already been a goal in one of the other 2pm games this afternoon. Aston Villa, one place above Liverpool, have taken an early lead against Sunderland through Ollie Watkins.
2 mins: Everton 0 Liverpool 0
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If you wondered whether this fixture would lose anything for moving from Goodison Park, think again. The pre-match spectacle - and the noise - has been fantastic, a genuine occasion to say you were there. All that matters now, though, is how the 90 minutes plays out. The suspicion is that for Liverpool win, they will need their best performance of the season. Have the got it within them?
Kick-off
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We are under way at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Will Everton move within two points of the city rivals or can Liverpool strengthen their position in the Champions League places?
Nearly ready for action
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After a tifo is unveiled at one end and the Everton fans belt out I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues, both sides emerge into the Merseyside sunshine to the sound of Z Cars and we are moments away from kick-off in the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up this afternoon:
Everton: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall; McNeil, Ndiaye, Beto.
Substitutes: Travers, Patterson, Keane, Barry, George, Dibling, Alcaraz, Rohl, Iroegbunam.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Substitutes: Woodman, Pesci, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
Today’s games
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Everton vs Liverpool 2pm
Aston Villa vs Sunderland 2pm
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley 2pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Plenty of action this afternoon with ramifications at both ends of the table. We have a number of sides chasing Champions League qualification, Nottingham Forest trying to take a big step towards survival and then the top two facing off at the Etihad later. We have four of the top five in action today.
Final Merseyside derby
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Today represents the final time that Mohamed Salah will play in the Merseyside derby and he starts today having been on the bench in midweek against PSG. It will also be the final Merseyside derby appearance for Andy Robertson, who will also leave the club in the summer.
Milestone for Szoboszlai
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The Hungarian, who has been fantastic for Liverpool in what has been a poor season for the club, is set to start at right-back for the visitors. Should he be playing further forward and not at right-back? Remember you can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall interview: Lifting a trophy next to Donald Trump was surreal
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It took a substantial shift, moving from important goals to the president of the United States, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall embraces the change of discussion.
There is potential here for the easiest headline of the year and, quick-witted lad that he is, he spots it with a chuckle. A winner in the Merseyside derby would, indeed, trump a meeting with Donald Trump, but to give this context, we must go back to last July and the MetLife Stadium in New York.
Chelsea had just become the inaugural winners of the Club World Cup, having beaten Paris St-Germain 3-0, and Trump had been invited to present the trophy. It was meant to be only a fleeting appearance but, somehow, he became the central figure in a blue-and-white ticker-tape parade.
Atmosphere building
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Liverpool’s last five results
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Liverpool 0 PSG 2 (Champions League)
Liverpool 2 Fulham 0 (Premier League)
PSG 2 Liverpool 0 (Champions League)
Manchester City 4 Liverpool 0 (FA Cup)
Brighton 2 Liverpool 1 (Premier League)
It has been a detrimental few weeks for Arne Slot’s side, being knocked out of both the Champions League and the FA Cup. Their only win in their last five came eight days ago in the league against Fulham and today’s game is important in the race for Champions League football for next season. A win for Slot’s men would put them seven points clear of Chelsea with just five games remaining.
Jeremie Frimpong interview: Everyone hates losing – but no season is a failure
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The instruction from Jeremie Frimpong is firm and cannot be ignored. This has been an enlightening discussion, switching from culture shocks to escape rooms and family values, but disappointment is the current topic and Liverpool’s right-back is meeting it head on.
It has been another draining week. Liverpool’s reign as league champions could officially end this weekend, depending on the outcome of the Merseyside derby or the showdown in Manchester: if this is matchplay golf, Arne Slot’s men are dormie with Arsenal, 18 points behind with six games to play. Not even the biggest fantasist can foresee a miracle.
Pre-match thoughts of David Moyes
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2026"We've not been in this position for a long time!"
David Moyes on Everton's success ahead of the Merseyside derby 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZGutn4QqQv
Teams in full
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Everton: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall; McNeil, Ndiaye, Beto.
Substitutes: Travers, Patterson, Keane, Barry, George, Dibling, Alcaraz, Rohl, Iroegbunam.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Substitutes: Woodman, Pesci, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
Everton’s last five results (all Premier League)
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Brentford 2 Everton 2
Everton 3 Chelsea 0
Arsenal 2 Everton 0
Everton 2 Burnley 0
Newcastle 2 Everton 3
Final Merseyside derby for Salah
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Liverpool’s squad walked into Hill Dickinson Stadium 10 minutes ago and the noise was a precursor for what is to come. They had to walk through a tunnel to get into the entrance and Arne Slot had a wide-eyed expression at the ferocity and hostility. It’s the last time Mohamed Salah will get to experience this fixture and he, too, looked startled about the din that was coming from either side. Everton’s fan are absolutely up for this one.
Team news about to drop
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We are moments away from finding out the two starting XIs at the Hill Dickinson...
This round of Premier League fixtures
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Saturday:
Brentford 0 Fulham 0
Leeds 3 Wolves 0
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2
Tottenham 2 Brighton 2
Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Today:
Everton vs Liverpool 2pm
Aston Villa vs Sunderland 2pm
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley 2pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Monday:
Crystal Palace vs West Ham 8pm
City bragging rights on the line
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It is the 248th Merseyside derby and the first one to take place at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with five points separating the city rivals coming into this fixture. Everton have won just one of their last 14 league home games against Liverpool. Liverpool won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Anfield thanks to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike.
This will be the first Merseyside derby in this stadium, with the final one at Goodison Park last season ending in dramatic circumstances as Everton equalised late on through James Tarkowski deep into stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw. Following the final whistle, Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré were shown red cards, as was Arne Slot.
“It was amazing, the last game at Goodison,” Everton manager David Moyes said. “Privileged that I was in that position to take the team. A bit sad to leave Goodison because it was so important to me, my family over an 11-year tenure before that. Leaving it in a good way was pleasing. We are now at Hill Dickinson Stadium and are enjoying it. When you move to a new stadium, it is always difficult, you look through the records; it has never been easy. We have had our ups and downs. We are finding a bit of form now, I hope we can maintain that. We have got three big games at home to look forward to and hope we can get some good results.”
Everton secured a draw late on last time out away at Brentford and are five points behind their city rivals. They begin the day in tenth but would rise to sixth with a win this afternoon. Carlos Alcaraz is back in training for the hosts whilst Jack Grealish is out for the season.
Liverpool’s last hopes of winning silverware this season were ended on Tuesday as they were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG. Liverpool’s win last time out in the league against Fulham is the only time they have not lost in the last five games in all competitions. Not only were Liverpool knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night but also Hugo Ekitike picked up a serious achilles injury.
“He [Ekitike] has not be operated on yet,” Slot said. “It is devastating for him coming to a new club and having an impact. He was playing against his former club in the Champions League with so much to come in the summer. My first thoughts are with him being out for such a long time and missing out on special moments. He is not the first or last to experience this. There are so many examples of players that came back even stronger; that is his challenge. He could be one of those in 10-15 years time that will say the injury made him stronger and to perform at an even higher level than before.
“It is a good thing we signed two No 9’s. Lot of people were debating why we signed two, now it looks like a good one. We thought it was smart not to be the only club to have one No.9. Now people are saying we should sign another in the summer! Someone said to me that you cannot write the script that on the day Isak is back after four months on first start the other [Ekitike] leaves pitch with a long-term injury. Even more a good thing that Isak is back but would not be the first game I did not have someone available in a certain position, such as right-back. It is nice to have him back but Isak we know is not ready to play 90 yet.”
Liverpool go into this game in fifth, currently occupying the final Champions League place, and could go seven points clear of Chelsea in sixth with a victory today. Ekitike joins the likes of Alisson, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley on the sidelines whilst Joe Gomez will also miss out on this game.
Team news to follow shortly.