Arne Slot sends passionate message to Liverpool fans after historic Everton derby win

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was delighted to beat Everton in the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Virgil van Dijk heading home a late winner

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot after his team beat Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Arne Slot was delighted to come away from the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a victory, as Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk netted a late winner.

Van Dijk headed home deep into stoppage time, with the Dutchman getting his head to the ball and nudging it past Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. That came after Beto had canceled out Mohamed Salah's opener.

"The fans have seen us play two incredible teams in PSG and Manchester City and we've lost them both," Slot told BBC Sport at the final whistle, when he was asked about the circumstances of the late win.

"Throughout the season, all these games with the all these games and the limited players available have hurt and cost us quite a lot of points. But today is definitely a day for the fans to be happy. That's what we will be."

Van Dijk celebrated wildly after scoring and a few minutes later, he and his teammates took in the full rapturous applause from the traveling Liverpool fans housed in the corner of the stadium.

"We are going to enjoy it," Slot added. "My staff, my players and me. There is no difference between us and the fans; we would have loved to have had a better season than we've had.

Virgil van Dijk left Mohamed Salah visibly emotional after Liverpool's win over Everton(Image: Sky Sports)

"But for obvious reasons, we haven't, and we saw that today. How many times do you have two goalkeepers injured?

"That has been our season, but we managed to win, and that's the most important thing."

With Alisson Becker already sidelined, Giorgi Mamardashvili was stretchered off in the second half, to be replaced by 29-year-old back-up option Freddie Woodman.

Slot said that the extent of the injury that Mamardashvili suffered is yet to be determined. A full assessment will hopefully return with positive news on the Georgian.

"It didn't look great," Slot admitted. "It was a big wound and he went straight to the hospital. It will not be a long-term injury, but let's see if he will be available next week."

"I enjoyed it because it was a very big, important three points," Van Dijk added. "First game here to good to get a win. We knew it was going to be a battle, that was expected.

"We responded pretty well after the first disallowed goal with the goal we scored. We had some shorts from distance and happy that I could contribute with a goal as well in the end."