Virgil van Dijk has a dream debut for Liverpool behind him. The purchase of 85.4 million euros received a base place on Friday in the contest against Everton, a city companion in the third round of the FA Cup, and in the final stage made the decision with a header: 2-1. Van Dijk thus prevented a replay and provided Liverpool with a ticket for the fourth round.
The cameras were often focused on Virgil van Dijk in the first quarter, although this was also due to a lack of action for both goals. In the opening phase, Liverpool was the upper party, without becoming really dangerous. Only after 25 minutes the audience sprung up for the first time. After Joe Gomez had a beautiful, revolving cross of Joe Gomez, James Milner fired half a volley. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saw the ball hittingly next to sailing and a little later Sadio Mané produced an exhaust fan for Liverpool.
The home team patiently played the ball around patiently in the search for an opening through the blue wall. Ultimately, a penalty kick was the solution for Liverpool. Mason Holgate grabbed Adam Lallana in the penalty area, after which arbiter Robert Madley pointed at the dot. Milner used the penalty kick with a shot through the middle. In the remainder of the first half, a cathedral from Van Dijk bounced off on teammate Roberto Firmino, while there were also some riots on the field. For example, Firmino was pushed into the stands by Mason Holgate, who got away without a card.
Everton had to defend himself after rest and in the second half of the year, too, was the first chance for Liverpool. At the second pole Joe Gomez was completely free after a corner, but his header was missing the right direction. Lallana then shot under pressure next to Pickford’s goal after good work by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Another great opportunity was to force Pickford, who was close up goalkeeper Pickford, to be saved. The chances continued to accumulate: after a free kick Van Dijk headed in the hands of the goalkeeper.
Everton’s equalizer came from nowhere. It was Gylfi Sigurdsson who, with a cool slider, took care of the 1-1 from the edge of the penalty area, after it was served by Phil Jagielka. A replay seemed necessary, but Liverpool finally pulled at the longest end. Van Dijk was often sought in standard situations and that was also the case with a corner. After the crossover of Oxlade-Chamberlain, the Dutchman tore above his guards and nodded.
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