Late Liverpool Winner Stuns Everton in Merseyside Derby

Virgil van Dijk's stoppage-time header extends Reds' dominance over rivals

Apr. 20, 2026 at 8:10am

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A cubist, fragmented painting depicting the climactic moments of the Merseyside Derby, with sharp planes of blue and red colliding to capture the intensity of the match.A fractured, geometric interpretation of the dramatic late winner in the Merseyside Derby, reflecting the high stakes and bitter rivalry between Everton and Liverpool.Leeds Point Today

In a dramatic Merseyside Derby at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool snatched a late 1-0 victory over their rivals. Virgil van Dijk's header in the 10th minute of stoppage time broke Everton hearts, continuing Liverpool's dominance in this fixture with their sixth stoppage-time winner against the Toffees in the Premier League era.

Why it matters

The result keeps Liverpool's faint title hopes alive, while dealing a blow to Everton's European ambitions. The Toffees have now suffered heartbreak against their neighbors on multiple occasions, raising questions about their ability to get over the line in big moments.

The details

Everton had looked set to earn a hard-fought point against their bitter rivals, but Van Dijk's late heroics snatched all three points for Liverpool. The Dutchman rose highest to meet a set piece delivery and power a header past the Everton goalkeeper in the dying seconds, sparking wild celebrations among the away fans.

  • The match was played at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, the first Merseyside Derby to be held at the venue.
  • Van Dijk's winning goal came in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

The players

Virgil van Dijk

The Liverpool defender scored the late winning goal to secure victory for the Reds.

Everton

The home team were left heartbroken after conceding a late goal to lose the Merseyside Derby.

Liverpool

The away team continued their dominance over their rivals with a last-gasp winner.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

The takeaway

This dramatic late winner in the Merseyside Derby highlights Liverpool's ability to grind out results, even when not at their best. For Everton, the defeat is another painful chapter in their rivalry with the Reds, raising questions about their mentality and ability to see out games against their biggest foes.