Liverpool 2 Everton 1: Van Dijk scores winner on debut

Virgil van Dijk immediately began repaying his £75million transfer fee as he scored Liverpool’s winner in a 2-1 FA Cup third-round triumph over Merseyside rivals Everton.

The former Southampton star, who this month became the world’s most expensive defender, headed in the winner six minutes from time on a night not short on controversy at Anfield.

Having bemoaned the decision to award Everton a penalty in last month’s Premier League draw between the two, Jurgen Klopp saw his side get the benefit of some considerable doubt for another spot-kick call on Friday.

Mason Holgate was the man punished for a supposed foul on Adam Lallana just inside the area and James Milner stepped up to convert his first goal of the season.

Tempers flared before the interval and Holgate was again at the centre of it, shoving Roberto Firmino into the crowd to prompt an angry reaction from the Liverpool forward.

Sigurdsson then brought Everton level in the 67th minute, capping a fine breakaway to stun the home fans as the visitors had offered little in attack up to that point.

Sam Allardyce’s side, who confirmed the signing of striker Cenk Tosun at half-time, looked livelier after that but suffered the late blow of Van Dijk’s decider as Liverpool made it a club-record 16 games unbeaten against Everton.

VVVVIIIIRRRRRGGGGGGIIIIIILLLLLLLLLL!

[2-1] https://t.co/vW81HIF2Vm pic.twitter.com/whaGPOu2yq

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 5, 2018

Wayne Rooney proved a little too enthusiastic in his early challenge on Joe Gomez as his mistimed attempt to win the ball back following a poor touch earned the former England striker a yellow card.

With Mohamed Salah sidelined for a home side featuring six changes and no Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane had the chance to step out from the shadow of the man who beat him to the African Footballer of the Year award, but shot well wide of the target from 25 yards.

The hosts had to defend doggedly to shut down a promising attack for Everton in the 24th minute, with Van Dijk playing his part to thwart them before Milner side-footed a volley wide of the far post at the other end.

Lallana tried to turn in the box but took a tumble under close attention from Holgate, with Milner coolly converting from 12 yards.

Milner makes no mistake. pic.twitter.com/SvcUeFb02E

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 5, 2018

Controversy stirred just before the break as Firmino and Holgate clashed after the Brazilian was pushed into the crowd by his opponent, with the two squaring up amid ugly scenes.

An out-of-sorts Rooney was replaced early in the second half by the young Ademola Lookman as Allardyce sought a route back into the contest, though his side could have fallen 2-0 behind soon after when Gomez badly miscued a straightforward back-post header.

Everton came close to capitalising on that let-off as Sigurdsson’s swinging free-kick caused problems for a nervy Loris Karius, with the Reds ultimately escaping unharmed. 

The headlines looked to have been written when Van Dijk climbed to meet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s excellent cross, only to direct his header at Jordan Pickford.

And Liverpool fell victim to a sucker-punch when Sigurdsson brilliantly stroked home at the end of a rapid counter-attack led by Lookman.

Van Dijk, though, insisted on being the centre of attention and nodded in Oxlade-Chamberlain’s late corner to spark jubilant celebrations.

Key Opta facts:
– Everton were unbeaten in their first seven matches under Sam Allardyce (W4 D3) but they have lost each of their last three, scoring just two goals in their last five matches.
– James Milner has scored 11 of his 13 penalties for Liverpool in all competitions – though he had failed to score with his previous two efforts before this game.
– Milner has scored three goals in his last two FA Cup third-round matches, also scoring twice for Manchester City against Sheffield Wednesday in January 2015.
– All four of Gylfi Sigurdsson’s goals against Liverpool have been scored at Anfield, with two in the FA Cup (also for Reading in January 2010).
– The Reds have not lost a Merseyside derby in which they have scored first since December 1992.
– This was the 24th meeting between these sides in the FA Cup, making it the most played fixture in the competition’s history.