‘Big, big compliment’: Arne Slot hails Liverpool’s mentality in win at Everton

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Arne Slot claimed Liverpool provided the perfect answer to questions over their mentality and character as Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute header clinched victory in the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.Liverpool opened up a seven-point gap to sixth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification with their captain’s dramatic intervention against Everton, who were left to rue another late blow by their local rivals. David Moyes described the outcome as “cruel” and claimed Everton should have had a penalty for a push by Curtis Jones on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.After his team’s Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, however, plus the FA Cup collapse at Manchester City, Slot felt the manner of Liverpool’s victory demonstrated the commitment of his team.

Woodman was not seriously tested before Van Dijk struck the latest winner in a Merseyside derby.Slot added: “I don’t think we’ve had a lot of big moments this season. We haven’t felt a lot of joy this season yet.

But in the league we are far from where we want to be. To beat Everton in their first game in their new stadium after the week we had is an enormous compliment to everybody involved in Liverpool FC.”