Three Liverpool legends create another piece of Merseyside football history in dramatic derby

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Liverpool verdict from the Merseyside derby as Arne Slot's side beat Everton 2-1 in dramatic style at Hill Dickinson StadiumIf Hill Dickinson Stadium offered a glimpse into the future of the Merseyside derby, it was left to the Liverpool fans to pay homage to those who have made history in it.A 2-1 win in the first-ever meeting between these rivals here, courtesy of goals from those old warhorses Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, keeps Arne Slot on course to secure the only objective left to the Reds in qualification to the Champions League next season.And as the players made their way to the Liverpool corner after the most dramatic of finales down on the banks of the River Mersey, it was those making the shortest away trip of the season who made their voices heard loudest.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageFirst it was Andy Robertson, who will sign off as a two-time Premier League winner at Anfield next month, who was serenaded by a jubilant crowd.Next came club captain Van Dijk, the Liverpool match-winner, and then Salah, who added goal No.257 to his list to go level with Steven Gerrard as the all-time leading marksman in Premier League derbies with nine.Salah and Robertson are of course heading for pastures new this summer and Van Dijk will enter the final year of his own contract at the age 35 in early July.

It will be no easy task for those in charge of recruitment.When a confidence-sapped Reds side needed their leaders in the lion's den, all three made their mark, with Van Dijk heading home a dramatic 100th-minute winner after Salah's opener had been cancelled out by Beto.Liverpool's season has been characterised by late drama to the point where no other team has scored as many goals as their 18 after the 75th-minute of games. But they have also found themselves wanting so often as the final stages approach, with too many points frittered away in stoppage time.The entire complexion of the season, in fact, would look so much different had lapses not occurred against teams like Wolves, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Bournemouth and Fulham.So when the number 11 flashed up on the fourth official's board to signal a copious amount of additional time with the scores level, a late winner, one way or another, was destined to decide to this pulsating derby.That it went the way of the Reds means they are now edging ever closer towards making sure that Slot's difficult sophomore season at least ends without too much lasting damage.

Curtis Jones, at right-back, was particularly impressive with both his use of the ball and willingness to defend in the position he is not 100% comfortable in.Everton's leveller came via Beto after the break, when he slid home from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's cross after both Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk had been dragged from their central position before failing to deal with the danger.It was a goal that had lasting ramifications for Mamardashvili too, who was taken off on a stretcher to be replaced by third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who made his first appearance in the top flight for nearly five years.Slot might have been forgiven for cursing his luck but credit goes to a Liverpool team that have too often wilted at the first sign of a setback. Seventeen defeats across all competitions is an unacceptable statistic and the inquiry should be extensive after the final whistle sounds on May 24.But right now, Slot's Liverpool at least remain on course to secure the overriding Champions League aim, which will give them a fighting chance to correct their problems this summer.A finish inside the Premier League's top five won't mean this campaign will suddenly have been a success, but the safety net of top-level European football allows owners Fenway Sports Group to decide more rationally on what the true depth of failure is.And despite this morale-boosting nature of this victory, the question marks around the suitability of the head coach will linger.All of that that, though, can wait.