Liverpool’s narrow win over Everton in the Merseyside derby had its fair share of drama. At one point, Reds fans couldn’t believe their eyes when Virgil van Dijk, usually so reliable, made a basic error.
The Dutch captain, attempting a clearance, completely missed the ball, gifting Everton’s Beto a golden chance to take the lead. Luckily for Liverpool, the ball hit the post, and Caoimhin Kelleher, standing in for the injured Alisson, breathed a sigh of relief.
After the game, Van Dijk admitted mistakes, saying;
“In football sometimes you can make mistakes, no-one plays football without making mistakes.” He also stressed that the team is focused on fighting till the end. “It’s a funny world. There were doubts outside all of a sudden, but the fact is there are eight games to go, there is a 12-point gap, and we focus on putting points on the board and playing the best football we can play. But if we have to fight, we have to fight.”
Kelleher, who kept a clean sheet, showed his quality once again. With Alisson ruled out due to concussion protocols, the young Irish keeper made a strong case for more game time. Van Dijk, reflecting on Kelleher’s potential summer move, said, “Be a Premier League champion. And that’s what the aim is for the rest of the season. What happens after the season, we will see then.”
Diogo Jota, who has struggled with injuries, found the net for the first time in three months. Van Dijk praised his hard work, saying, “He came back very sharp from Portugal, was good in training, so for him it was a case of just keep going, stay important. We know how good he can be, and he showed it with his goal. His work-rate and quality on the ball was good too.”
For Liverpool, the international break brought some needed relief. Van Dijk believes it helped his teammates recharge after a tough period.
“I liked it. It was a tough week for me personally with two difficult games, but it was good to get away for a couple of days, switch off completely, and then get back on it.”
