With Champions League hopes on the line, Liverpool finally showed they are up for the fight

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This was a wounded team who had lost their four previous away games against Galatasaray, Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Going out of the Champions League earlier in the week had been accompanied by losing 17-goal top scorer Hugo Ekitike with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Their lengthy list of absentees going into the 248th Merseyside derby also included Alisson, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo. Record-signing Alexander Isak was not in the shape required to start repaying that £125million fee following his recent comeback from a broken leg. The ineffective Sweden striker was replaced by Rio Ngumoha, 17, midway through the second half having had just nine touches and one tame attempt on goal with Mohamed Salah shifted from the right into the middle. This was Liverpool’s fifth game in the space of 15 days, with Everton playing just twice in that same period. However, rather than wilt when all the signs looked so ominous, Slot’s depleted lineup dug deep. They refused to be bullied. With their Champions League qualification hopes on the line, they showed they possess the hunger for the fight. Their spirit was epitomised by Curtis Jones, who filled in as a makeshift right-back. Virgil van Dijk’s header from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner in the 10th minute of stoppage time provided an explosion of joy in a season full of chastening setbacks. It was late and dramatic, but deserved, given how Liverpool had responded to adversity and the chances they had created in the closing stages. The celebrations in front of the jubilant away end after the final whistle showed what it meant. The first derby at Everton’s new waterfront stadium belonged to the 20-time champions of England. Remarkably, it was Liverpool’s sixth 90th-minute or later winner against their neighbours in the Premier League era — the most one side has against another in the competition’s history. “I don’t think we’ve had a lot of big moments this season,” Slot said. “At times, we’ve scored late goals but then conceded again. In the league, we are far from where we want to be. We have to accept that situation because we have dropped so many points after playing in Europe.” Victory completed a league double over Everton as Liverpool extended their advantage over sixth-placed Chelsea to seven points. There’s still work to be done to nail down a top-five finish with the visit of Chelsea to Anfield next month sandwiched by trips to Manchester United and Aston Villa. However, the landscape looks much rosier than it did a few weeks ago. It will take more than a cherished derby triumph for supporters to share Slot’s bullish optimism about the future, but if the Dutchman is going to stay at the helm, then he needs to ensure they go into the summer with momentum. Fans need something to buy into and this was a step in the right direction. On the 37th anniversary of Hillsborough earlier in the week, Slot got the squad together at the Kirkby training complex to remind them of the responsibility that comes with playing for the club. “In the lead up to this game, it was less about the league table and more about representing Liverpool,” he explained. “Four days ago, we paid our respects for the enormous tragedy that happened at Hillsborough. We also used this for the game today because it’s a privilege to represent this club. “Today they showed what it means to the players to represent this club and the fans, as they have been throughout the season, were a big support for us. To beat Everton in the first game in their new stadium after the week we’ve had is an enormous compliment to everyone involved with Liverpool FC.” The old guard led the way. Salah marked the final Merseyside derby of his illustrious career by coolly slotting home the opener from Cody Gakpo’s inviting pass. In doing so, the Egyptian equalled Steven Gerrard’s record tally of nine Premier League goals against Everton. The breakthrough settled Liverpool after an uncertain start and they threatened to add to their account before the break. Everton’s equaliser and Mamardashvili’s exit early in the second half suddenly changed the mood. The Georgia international went straight to hospital with a deep wound in his knee. With Alisson targeting a return at Old Trafford on May 3, it raises the prospect of Woodman needing to start at home against Crystal Palace next Saturday. “Is there anything that surprises you when it comes to injuries with us this season? Maybe I already envisaged it because I had two goalkeepers on the bench today,” Slot said. “Usually third-choice goalkeepers don’t play a lot, but in a season like ours, I think if you are playing in the under-8s at Liverpool, you should be ready for making your debut because it is unbelievable what’s happening to us.” Woodman, whose only previous outing this season was in October’s League Cup defeat by Palace, kept calm in difficult circumstances. He was helped by Slot’s side rallying. Set-piece analyst Lewis Mahoney had spotted a weakness in Everton’s setup at corners and they had come close to previously exploiting it before Van Dijk nodded home from five yards out. At 34 years and 285 days, Van Dijk became Liverpool’s second-oldest derby goalscorer after Gary McAllister, who got a similarly late winner at Goodison Park when he was 36 years and 112 days some 25 years ago. That victory propelled Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool to Champions League qualification. This latest derby triumph should do likewise given the positivity it injects. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @JamesPearceLFC