A dream for Liverpool fans but huge summer ahead for Slot
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For one afternoon in the Merseyside sunshine, they will not have cared one jot about the struggles they have endured this season.Everton came into this game with real belief but it was Liverpool who defied the early storm to take a surprise lead through Mohamed Salah and they deserve credit for their work on set-pieces in training, which came to fruition when Van Dijk got on the end of Dominik Szoboszlai's corner to exploit an Everton weakness that had been identified in the days leading up to the game.Crucially, Arne Slot's side now look set to secure Champions League football for next season and the Dutchman had two of his most senior players to thank for one of Liverpool's biggest victories this season."At the end of the day, it's the players who have been brilliant for such a long time for Liverpool Football Club that have come up with the goods. It's Virgil van Dijk again, it's Mohamed Salah who has managed to do it again and break Everton hearts," said Pat Nevin on 5 Live."That goal has probably given Liverpool what they need - and what they need is Champions League football.
That they look to set to secure Champions League football is primarily because Chelsea have lost their last four Premier League games and none of the chasing pack are likely to catch up with Liverpool, who have lost 10 league games this season.If the hierarchy choose to stick with Slot, then there are clear questions. And perhaps above all, how do Liverpool live without Salah?Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: "Not being in a Champions League spot is a catastrophe for Liverpool and that win today goes a long way to putting them in it."I think every win for Liverpool is important at the moment, by hook or by crook - it doesn't matter how they do it because the pressure is on."They are not playing well and they do look disjointed.
They gave up chances today and they were second best in the first half."Salah's first-half goal was his ninth in a Merseyside derby - in the Premier League era, no player has more, with only Steven Gerrard level with the Egyptian - and his 257th for Liverpool. His current deal as Liverpool boss expires next summer."My players did what I was hoping they'd do, what I expected they'd do and give Everton a big fight," Slot told Match of the Day.