LIVERPOOL, England — Virgil van Dijk headed home a last-gasp winner in the 100th minute of added time to secure a 2-1 victory for Liverpool over Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on April 2, 2024. The Dutch defender’s towering header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner capped a dramatic finish and marked his 100th goal for the club across all competitions.
The goal came after Everton had taken a 2-1 lead through James Tarkowski in the 85th minute, only for Liverpool to equalize in the fifth minute of stoppage time via Alexis Mac Allister. With the match seemingly headed for a draw, Van Dijk rose highest in the 100th minute to nod the ball past Jordan Pickford, sending the Liverpool contingent into raptures.
“It’s incredible,” Van Dijk said after the match. “To score my 100th goal for Liverpool in a derby, in the last minute, it’s something I’ll never forget. The boys never stopped believing, and we kept pushing until the very end.”
The win moves Liverpool to second place in the Premier League table with 64 points from 31 matches, four points behind leaders Arsenal but with a game in hand. Everton remain in 17th place with 28 points, just above the relegation zone.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp praised his team’s resilience. “This is what this club is about,” Klopp said. “We don’t give up. We keep fighting. Virgil’s goal was the reward for that spirit. It’s not just about the three points — it’s about the message it sends.”
Everton manager Sean Dyche acknowledged the late blow. “We were so close,” Dyche said. “We defended well for long stretches, but conceding two set-piece goals in stoppage time is hard to grab. Credit to Liverpool — they kept coming.”
The match began with Liverpool dominating early possession, but Everton struck first in the 23rd minute when Abdoulaye Doucouré volleyed home a cross from Dwight McNeil. Liverpool responded before halftime, with Cody Gakpo finishing a slick team move in the 42nd minute to level the score.
The second half saw both teams trade chances, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin both forcing saves. Tarkowski’s header from a corner in the 85th minute appeared to have sealed the win for Everton until Mac Allister’s late strike revived Liverpool’s hopes.
Van Dijk’s goal was his 12th of the season across all competitions and his first since February. It also marked his 100th goal for Liverpool, joining an elite group of defenders to reach the milestone for the club, alongside Jamie Carragher and Phil Thompson.
According to Opta, Van Dijk is the first Liverpool defender to score a stoppage-time winner in a Merseyside derby since Phil Thompson in 1977. The goal also made him the oldest Liverpool player to score in the fixture since Ian Rush in 2000.
The atmosphere at Goodison Park was electric, with a crowd of 39,412 witnessing a match that lived up to its billing as one of the fiercest rivalries in English football. Liverpool fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle, while Everton supporters were left to rue a chance to climb further clear of the relegation battle.
Liverpool’s next match is a Premier League fixture against Fulham at Anfield on April 6, 2024. Everton will host Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on the same day.
The Merseyside derby remains one of the most storied fixtures in world football, with Liverpool holding a 99-77-67 advantage in the all-time series entering this match. This win extends Liverpool’s unbeaten run against Everton to six matches across all competitions.
As the players shook hands after the final whistle, the image of Van Dijk collapsing to his knees in joy — surrounded by teammates — became an instant symbol of Liverpool’s never-say-die ethos under Klopp.
For a club built on resilience and belief, few moments encapsulate that spirit more than a defender scoring his 100th goal in the 100th minute of a derby.
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