National media react as Liverpool secure 'treasured piece of history' over Everton

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A look at how the national media saw things as Liverpool beat Everton 2-1 in the first-ever Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson StadiumThe first-ever Hill Dickinson Stadium Merseyside derby went the way of the visitors, as Liverpool secured a famous 2-1 win in the 248th edition with Everton on Sunday.After Mohamed Salah's goal had been cancelled out by Beto in the second period, it was left to captain Virgil van Dijk to head in a 100th-minute winner at the new home of the Blues on the River Mersey.The ECHO was at Hill Dickinson to review the game. All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageIan Ladyman, of the Daily Mail, writes: "At full-time, in the corner of this fabulous stadium still bathed in sunshine, it was Mo Salah and Andrew Robertson who were pushed to the front of the celebrating Liverpool supporters to take their own piece of the glory."A final Merseyside derby for two players who will leave Anfield this summer and a reminder, as if it were needed, of just how much this game means.

Everton had been progressive after their equaliser but somehow Liverpool found some forward momentum in the eleven minutes of added time that was signalled and in the tenth of those, Virgil van Dijk won a duel at a corner with James Tarkowski and headed in a winning goal that takes his team to the verge of Champions League qualification."On The Times' pages, Paul Joyce pens: "If Everton had ever wondered just how Liverpool must have felt on that night 14 months ago when David Moyes’s side scored at the death before celebrating loud and proud, then now they know."The first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium brought a sting in the tail to outdo the final instalment of the fixture back at Goodison Park some 431 days ago."James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute volley may have gone down in this game’s folklore even if it only rescued a point, but so will Virgil van Dijk’s header in the tenth minute of stoppage time, given it brought with it far more than a treasured piece of history."Victory was precious for Liverpool, strengthening their hold on fifth place - now seven points ahead of Chelsea - and bringing into focus the prospect of Champions League qualification after such a torturous campaign. For Everton that dream has probably died and they now sit tenth in the standings."Over in a corner of the stadium, Mohamed Salah, who had opened the scoring, patted his chest after the final whistle and, later, the visiting fans trotted out their old favourite: 'Liverpool are magic, Everton are tragic.'"Chris McKenna was there for The Independent and he writes: "The atmosphere beforehand made it feel like a big moment for Everton ahead of the first Merseyside derby at their new home."There were fireworks in the sky and hope in the air that the Toffees could close to within two points of their neighbours, Liverpool."There was also a tifo proclaiming them as 'The Originals', a jibe at their rivals, given they were founded first."They hoped a victory could seriously boost their chances of European qualification in their first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium."Yet when Virgil van Dijk rose to head home the winner in the 100th minute, the stadium turned into a sea of empty blue seats apart from one corner, which was celebrating wildly."The visiting supporters’ first trip to their neighbours’ new home would end perfectly for them."Not only did they put a pin in the ballooning optimism around Everton, but they strengthened their own hopes of ensuring they will still qualify for the Champions League despite a season of unexpected struggle for the side soon to relinquish its Premier League title."And on the pages of The Mirror, Andy Dunn reflects: "Thankfully, Liverpool have long since ditched a marketing campaign based on the slogan ‘This Means More’.

He has never publicly held any grudge, but his headed winner deep into eleven minutes of stoppage time looked understandably sweet to him."In fact, it would be harsh to criticise him for celebrating and gloating in the faces of Everton fans who responded with predictable missile-throwing anger."But if Van Dijk felt it was an extra-special goal - his sixth of the season - because of what happened in any past fixture, he probably also felt it carried more significance because of the season he and his side have had."Van Dijk has not been at his consistent best and he has had to front up after every disappointment in Liverpool’s ill-fated Premier League title defence. As Chelsea unravel in serious style, Liverpool now have a seven-point cushion in the skirmish for Champions League places."The ECHO's verdict reads: "If 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 for 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."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.