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Virgil van Dijk celebrates after Diogo Jota (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC at Anfield on April 02, 2025 (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool deserve credit for getting back to winning ways after they responded to their Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United last month by beating Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside derby.

After a frustrating first period that saw Blues striker Beto have a goal ruled out for offside before hitting the post, Arne Slot's team improved after the break and eventually made the breakthrough before the hour mark through Diogo Jota.

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The victory, in the 246th meeting between the clubs, was enough to restore the Premier League leaders' advantage to 12 points once more and Van Dijk believes the players should be recognised for overcoming a difficult first half to ensure they put the disappointment of the Wembley loss behind them.



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“I think the Merseyside derby is a difficult game," Van Dijk said.

"It was not the best first half, but a very good second half, well-deserved [result] based on the second half.

But it's a big game and coming back from the international break, coming back from a disappointing final, it was very important to get back to winning ways and we did.

“Playing against a team who has strength and they have quality to make it difficult for you.

Those two moments, the one that was offside and the one I failed to clear, I think was in that same period so maybe the period of anxiety creeps in from the fans but the way we settled it and played especially the second half that looks very good and something we should focus on more than the uncertainties [defensively].

"I don't know [if the break helped everyone].

It was a tough week for me personally with two difficult games so everyone had their own situation but what was good was that we could get away for a couple of days, switch off completely, and then back on it from last Saturday.

"I think we trained very well, these games are always going to be intense, very direct, second-ball fight and we had to be ready for it, and apart from the two defensive uncertainties, which could allow anxiety to creep in, I thought we did really well in the second half.

"It's a funny world.

Not really.

"It was always going to be a physical game because that is also Everton's game, very physical and they make it very difficult for teams – like what happened at Goodison Park and we had to be ready for it.

"The majority of the game we showed we were definitely ready for it.
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