Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Everton as Mohamed Salah and 4 more strong

Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Everton as Mohamed Salah and three more of Arne Slot's players did well but Beto was able to level at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

Mohamed Salah celebrates after putting Liverpool 1-0 ahead against Everton.(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)

HILL DICKINSON STADIUM, LIVERPOOL // Virgil van Dijk scored a 99th-minute winner for Liverpool after Mohamed Salah had put the Reds in front in the first derby, grabbing a victory at Everton's new stadium.

Iliman Ndiaye thought that he had given Everton the lead in the first half, only for the VAR to intervene and rule it out for an offside, and seconds later, Cody Gakpo had fed Salah to open the scoring in this fixture at the new venue.

Instead of going further ahead, Liverpool allowed Beto to level when Ibrahima Konate was caught sleeping and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall got in behind him to cross. From there, neither side looked likely to break the deadlock again until Van Dijk pounced.

Winners

Salah was always likely to be determined to get another big moment and his goal was well-taken. He and Gakpo carried the Liverpool attack, with Alexander Isak, in particular, off the pace.

There wasn't chance after chance, but he took the one that came his way in the first half really well. Had Liverpool gone behind, you would have feared for its chances of a recovery. And, of course, Van Dijk netted what was the winner, on a day that looked to be petering out.

Losers

Isak simply needs matches to get match fit. There is no other way around that. His four touches in the first half suggested that he is still some way off full sharpness, but it was a worthwhile portion of time on the pitch for him. The same can be said of Florian Wirtz, who looked like he wasn't used to the frenetic nature of a derby, and Ryan Gravenberch, whose passing deserted him at times.

Player ratings

Giorgi Mamardashvili (7). His shot-stopping ability is his strength and his kicking is something that needs to improve, but both were good here. The Georgian made a great stop from a Beto header early on and was doing well until he was injured.

Curtis Jones (7). Though this is not his favored role, the Scouser was delighted to be in the team. He came inside a lot anyway and was often taking over the build-up responsibility from the two central defenders. Out of position, he was very good.

Ibrahima Konate (6). Shaky in the last game at Goodison Park, the center-back needed to be much more alert against Beto this time around. He was in the main, but then allowed Dewsbury-Hall in behind when Beto leveled.

Virgil van Dijk (7). Everton seemed to target Konate with balls in behind and so he wasn't always busy. Got in the right place to block Beto on a couple of crosses, though, and was always well-placed. Netted the winner late on in stoppage time.

Andy Robertson (6). In over Milos Kerkez for his experience of the derby, he made a couple of good interceptions and was determined in his defending. Didn't get forward much, but that was not his primary role here.

Ryan Gravenberch (6). He was fortunate not to be booked early in the game and was mixed generally. Some very good runs forward with the ball, but some poor passing too. He was a little hesitant on occasion.

Dominik Szoboszlai (7). He looks good in a deeper midfield role and on his 100th appearance, it was the right call to have his energy in there over Alexis Mac Allister, who has looked jaded for much of the campaign.

Alongside Gravenberch, his legs were a must, and he shuttled around trying to close down various Everton players, not least the dangerous and wandering Iliman Ndiaye.

Mohamed Salah (7). In his final Merseyside derby, the Egyptian looked really bright, especially first half. He has gotten the better of Vitalii Mykolenko before and was never going to miss when Gakpo set him up. His defensive work ethic was notable too.

Florian Wirtz (6). In the Anfield game, the German was left on the bench. Perhaps it is a sign that Arne Slot thinks he has improved physically that he started, and he certainly pressed as well as he could.

Some of his passes were a little rushed, though, and he needed time to get used to the derby atmosphere and intensity. In a couple of good positions, he made the wrong decision.

Cody Gakpo (7). He hasn't started often of late but made a good impression off the bench against PSG earlier this week. The pass for Salah's opener was superb and he made a decisive impact to carve open the Everton defense.

Alexander Isak (5). Starting for the second game in the space of a few days, Arne Slot said he might have as much as 75 minutes in the tank. He did in terms of his running, but he hardly touched the ball.

Substitutes

Freddie Woodman (7). What a game to make your debut in. The 29-year-old did really well to get into things as quickly as he did, but Everton should perhaps have put him under more pressure. This was as good as he could have hoped for.

Rio Ngumoha (6). Thrown into the action with around 20 minutes to play, the 17-year-old didn't look fazed. He threw in plenty of stepovers but they ultimately didn't lead to anything.

Alexis Mac Allister (6). Given only around 10 minutes here, the Argentine wasn't able to do much but concede a couple of fouls. One, in particular, looked harsh.

Jeremie Frimpong (6). Slightly surprising that he didn't start, but added some pace down the right flank. Did well to put his foot in defensively a couple of times.