3 things we learned from Liverpool’s dramatic derby win against Everton
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The first derby at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium looked to be headed for a draw until captain Virgil van Dijk scored deep into stoppage time to hush the raucous Everton crowd.The result increases Liverpool’s gap ahead of Chelsea in the table to seven points and establishes some breathing space in their pursuit of Champions League football next season, but Arne Slot’s side can’t afford to take their foot off the gas just yet. Let’s take a look at the key lessons from the match.Derby Baptism of FireThree Liverpool players made their first Merseyside derby starts, and it proved to be something of a baptism of fire for Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Georgi Mamardashvili.The physicality of the game seemed to be too much for Isak and Wirtz throughout the match, and Mamardashvili was stretchered off just shy of the hour mark after a coming together in the lead-up to Everton’s equalizer.
That’s another injury headache for Slot, but more on that later.Isak has had a stop-start Liverpool career thus far and is still lacking match fitness, but despite the win, he could be forgiven for feeling a little disappointed after this game. By suppressing Wirtz, Everton cut off one of Isak's major supply channels in this match.The big-money signings would have been briefed on what to expect before this game, but on Sunday they learned that it’s a whole different thing to be in the heat of it.
Everton v Liverpool - Premier League | James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImagesWith 12 goals and 9 assists in 38 appearances, it’s been a disappointing season by his lofty standards, but anybody who doubted that he’d show up in his last Merseyside derby was set straight.Worries for the run-inThis derby will be reassuring for Liverpool fans after a disheartening last few games. Speaking about Mamardashvili's injury to BBC Sport after the match, Slot said: “It didn't look great, it was a big wound and he went straight to the hospital.