VAN DIJK DERBY DEBUT DELIGHT AFTER WINNER
DREAM COME TRUE FOR £75MILLION DEFENDER
Liverpool debutant Virgil van Dijk said scoring the winner in the Merseyside derby FA Cup third round tie against Everton at Anfield was a dream come true.
With the scores tied at 1-1, Van Dijk headed home the winner from a corner with five minutes remaining as he paid off some of his £75million price tag to seal a 2-1 result.
The Holland international, who completed his move from Southampton earlier this week, told BBC1: “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.”
The home side took the lead 35 minutes in as James Milner converted a penalty – awarded after Adam Lallana went down after contact with Mason Holgate – straight down the middle as Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford dived to his left.
Holgate escaped any punishment after pushing Reds striker Roberto Firmino into the stand six minutes before the break as tempers began to fray.
Everton struck back midway through the second half as Gylfi Sigurdsson slotted Phil Jagielka’s pull back into the bottom corner from the edge of the 18-yard box before Van Dijk bagged the late winner.
Milner believes there is a lot more to come from the former Celtic defender.
He said: “It’s not an easy game to step into but it’s the sort of game I’m sure he’s come here to play and under the lights at Anfield it’s very special, and a Merseyside derby.
“For him to step in and perform how he did, that’s what we expect of him to be honest.
“We’ve seen what a good player he is and there’s a lot more to come.”
Everton were much improved after the break, and deserved Sigurdsson’s equaliser as even Liverpool’s new £75million signing could not help them keep a clean sheet.
However, he repaid them in fine style, beating former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to the ball to spark wild celebrations at his new home.
His goal gave manager Jurgen Klopp his first FA Cup win at the fifth time of asking – also setting a new unwanted record for Everton, who have now gone 16 derbies without a win.