Worth every penny! Debut van Dijk goal gives Liverpool victory over Everton

Liverpool FC have knocked Merseyside rivals Everton out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 win at Anfield tonight. The clash featured the debut for Virgil van Dijk who scored the winner for his new club.

What. A. Game. Fire, filth, fury… Everything that screams the words ‘Merseyside derby’. Following their 1-1 derby stalemate in the Premier League, Liverpool had to come out all guns blazing tonight.

A good performance from the Reds saw them take home a well earned win. A few sloppy mistakes and errors were present but commanding play from Andy Robertson, Sadio Mané and Virgil van Dijk saved the day.

A penalty in the first half for Liverpool came from Mason Holgate’s manhandling of Adam Lallana in the box. Cool as ever, James Milner was the one to tuck it away from the spot. Firing straight down the middle, Jordan Pickford had no chance. 1-0 to the home side.

Liverpool’s lead trickled away as an Everton counter attack saw the Reds extremely exposed at the back. Following the deflection from a Liverpool corner, the Toffees found themselves with their first real chance of the game.

And in true Liverpool fashion, the shot flew into the back of the net and closed the daylight between them.

Everton’s first shot on target saw them right back in the game. That is, until the big man entered the room.

After a hectic summer episode between Liverpool and Southampton, it looked like interest had been withdrawn from Big Virgil. But just days before the new year rolled in, it was announced that the deal had been done. Virgil van Dijk made the record breaking £75million move to Anfield.

Kopites have been itching for the new Number Four to make his debut and surely enough he was up there on tonight’s team sheet.

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The big man showed so much energy and leadership from the first minute. He was seen on numerous occasions shouting instructions to Loris Karius and rest of the back four. His ability to rally his teammates and impact a game is exactly what Liverpool have been deprived of.

After tensions flew between the two sides following another Holgate incident, van Dijk was the only one keeping his cool, calm demeanour. Duelling for the ball, Everton’s Number 30 violently shoved Roberto Firmino with both hands sending the Brazilian toppling into the stands.

The first derby fight in a long time broke out as Firmino retaliated from the shove. No card was shown for Holgate leaving both the fans and players reeling.

The match looked like it would fizzle out into another 1-1 draw. But in the 84th minute, as an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain corner swung in, none other than Virgil van Dijk put it away to seal the win.

The Dutchman almost scored from a header previously in the game – this goal was clearly to make up for it. The headed shot floated perfectly into the back of the net and the Kop erupted into celebration. The perfect start to a career at Liverpool FC.

Watching VVD’s first 90 minutes in a Liverpool shirt, it’s an understatement to say how influential a player he is. With him in the centre of the Reds’ back four, their defensive issues will near enough vanish in no time.

Sporting Kolo Toure’s old number, van Dijk celebrated in front of the roaring fans and lapped up the glory. A next to flawless performance from the new boy.

Next: Liverpool v Everton Player Ratings FA Cup

Which begs the question, can you see the Dutch powerhouse in the captain’s armband this time next year? I certainly think so, and it’ll be a smart move to make too. If every game can be like tonight’s, Liverpool have a lot of weight off their shoulders. Up the Reds and up the Virgil era!