Liverpool FC crest
Liverpool FC

Milner (pen 35)
Van Dijk (85)

FT
2 - 1
Emirate's FA Cup
19:55 Fri 5th Jan 2018
Location: Anfield
Everton crest
Everton

Sigurdsson (67)

19:55 Fri 5th Jan 2018
19:55 Fri 5th Jan 2018 Anfield

Liverpool v Everton: Matchday blog

Virgil van Dijk marked his Liverpool debut with a late Kop-end winner to seal a 2-1 win over Everton in the FA Cup third round on Friday.

James Milner put the Reds in front with a first-half penalty, before Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised midway through the second period. But Van Dijk popped up with an 85th-minute header to send the Reds into round four.

Post-match

Jürgen Klopp's verdict

No prizes for guessing which Liverpool player dominated the boss' post-match press conference!

To read Klopp's thoughts on Van Dijk's debut and our win in the 230th Merseyside derby, click here...

Post-match

'It doesn't get any better than that!'

We can't argue with that, Virgil! We caught up with our match-winner and debutant immediately after the game.

Click here to read what he had to say...

The story of a fairytale night in Opta widgets...

94

Full Time

It's all over!

Who'd have thought it? What a debut for Virgil van Dijk, who heads a Merseyside derby winner at the Kop end on his Liverpool debut.

Football, eh?

92

Bolasie strikes goalwards on the turn from distance, but it's over the crossbar.

90

Four minutes of added time to be played...

88

Yellow Card

Solanke goes into the book.

85

Goal

GOAL! VIRGIL VAN DIJK!

Incredible stuff! Virgil van Dijk marks his Liverpool debut with a goal at the Kop end!

The No.4 beats Pickford to Oxlade-Chamberlain's corner and nods a the ball in to make Anfield erupt!

You couldn't make it up!

82

Substitution

Calvert-Lewin off, Niasse on.

81

Firmino's snap-volley from a half-cleared free-kick looks destined for goal, but Jagielka gets his head in the way.

76

Substitution

Double change for the Reds - Solanke and Alexander-Arnold are on, Milner and Gomez off.

70

Substitution

Lallana goes off for the Reds, Wijnaldum comes on.

67

Goal

Goal for Everton - Sigurdsson

Everton draw level as Sigurdsson finishes off a counter-attack from a Liverpool corner by sweeping into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

66

Calvert-Lewin goes close to meeting Kenny's delivery, but the ball goes behind for a goal kick to the Reds.

63

Almost the dream moment for Van Dijk as he meets Oxlade-Chamberlain's free-kick from the right with a downward header, but it's straight at Pickford.

60

Yellow Card

McCarthy goes into the book.

59

Robertson cuts in from the left and whacks one towards the top corner from a tight angle; however, Pickford is able to beat it away.

55

Chance

Oxlade-Chamberlain nudges the ball through for Lallana, who manages to reach it before Jagielka, but he can only manage to roll it wide under pressure.

54

Chance

Oxlade-Chamberlain's corner finds Gomez unmarked at the back post six yards out, but he heads down and wide of the near post.

52

Substitution

Everton make a change - Rooney is off and Lookman is on.

49

A nervy moment for the Reds as Rooney scoops a cross in and it's nearly met by Calvert-Lewin, but Robertson gets enough on the ball to clear.

46

Kick-Off

Back under way...

Adam Lallana re-starts the game at Anfield.

The story of the first half in numbers...

46

Half Time

Reds lead at the break

James Milner's 35th-minute penalty means Liverpool hold a 1-0 lead over Everton at the midway point of a feisty FA Cup tie at Anfield.

42

The game is delayed for a couple of minutes following an altercation between Firmino and Holgate. When it resumes, Oxalde-Chamberlain is inches away from heading in a Robertson cross.

35

Goal

GOAL! JAMES MILNER!

No mistake. Get in!

34

Penalty

Penalty to Liverpool

Lallana is dragged down by Holgate and thre Reds have a spot kick...

33

Mane lines one up from just outside the area with his left boot, but it doesn't test Pickford.

25

Chance

Gomez hoists a deep cross to the back post from the right, where Milner meets it and attempts to steer back across goal and into the bottom corner with his side foot. It's off target, however.

15

Match shot

Virgil van Dijk settling in early on at his new home.

14

Mane steps into a central position 20 yards out and strikes; however, he like Can just before him, sends it well wide of the target.

12

Milner's deflected cross drops invitingly for Can 20 yards out. He controls on his chest, but scoops it well, well over Pickford's crossbar.

10

Really is frantic stuff here in the opening exchanges. Neither side have been able to gain control of the game just yet.

6

Yellow Card

A frenetic start here at Anfield produces the game's first yellow card as Rooney is booked for a late and rash challenge on Gomez.

Kick-Off

And we're off!

Everton kick the game off and we're up and running at Anfield.

The atmosphere is incredible for this Friday night FA Cup tie.

Pre-match

The Reds arriving...

Pre-match

Inside the dressing room...

Pre-match

Full Liverpool team news

Karius, Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Can, Milner, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Firmino.

Subs: Ward, Wijnaldum, Lovren, Klavan, Ings, Solanke, Alexander-Arnold.

Pre-match

TEAM NEWS

Virgil van Dijk makes his debut for Liverpool against Everton this evening.

The January signing is named in the starting XI for the FA Cup third-round clash at Anfield, having sealed his move to the Reds from Southampton on New Year’s Day, as Jürgen Klopp makes six changes.

Pre-match

Trent: Why the derby is special

Being a local lad, it’s fair to say a Merseyside derby has that tad more added spice for someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold.

And he’s been telling the matchday programme just how much Liverpool’s games with Everton mean to him.

He said: “It’s definitely a little bit more special than a normal game but I think it’s important on the day not to get too excited and get caught up in the same emotion as the fans. It’s hard not to, though, because it’ll be an exciting game and hopefully we’ll win it.

“The intensity of the game is a lot different, a lot higher, and it feels like there is more expectation on your shoulders because there are a lot more fans watching the game and so many people watching at home. Half of the city wants one team to win, half of the city wants the other team to win and everyone in the city watches the derby more than any other game.”

Pre-match

The scene is set...

Light rain falls over Anfield as kick-off approaches..

Pre-match

Fancy a flutter?

Here are the latest match odds from Bet Victor...

Liverpool - 4/11
Draw - 19/5
Everton - 7/1

Click here to place a bet

Pre-match

Sold out

Confirmation that this evening's game is completely sold out.

Not a spare seat in the house - should be a decent atmosphere...

Pre-match

Weather

A look to the skies

Heading to Anfield this evening? Dress for temperatures of around five degrees celsius if you are. 

Alternatively, jump up and down and sing enough that you don't feel the chill. 

Pre-match

Fun facts

Should Liverpool avoid defeat at Anfield tonight, they will set a new club record of 16 consecutive matches unbeaten against Everton across all competitions.

More like that can be found in Ged Rea's pre-match stat pack.

Pre-match

This Is Anfield

And this is what tonight's programme looks like - get yours at the ground!

Pre-match

''Fans need no team talk tonight

Jürgen Klopp is expecting a big atmosphere at Anfield this evening. 

He wrote in his programme notes: "Derby matches are wonderful, intense occasions at the best of times – but add in that this is in a knockout competition and under the lights, so early in the New Year, and that means both teams will recognise the importance and emotion involved with a game like this one. With such a big following coming from ‘across the park’, the atmosphere inside Anfield will be different as well." 

Read more from 'This Is Anfield' here.

Pre-match

Memory lane?

Remember this classic Merseyside derby encounter in the FA Cup? 

Relive some other belters from down the years here.

Pre-match

Transfer news

Academy defender Corey Whelan has agreed a loan move to Yeovil Town until the end of the season. All the best, Corey!

Pre-match

And the nominees are...

A nice boost for Jürgen Klopp and two of his players ahead of kick-off this evening.

The boss has been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month award for December, while Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are both up for the player equivalent.

Head here to cast your vote for Klopp, or click this link to decide between Mo and Bobby!

Pre-match

Hendo on Lallana

A nice quote on Liverpool's returning No.20 from the captain below. Read more in his programme notes here.

Pre-match

Straight from the horse's mouth

Of course, if you prefer your team news directly from the manager, then the video below will be right up your street.

Watch Jürgen Klopp's press conference to preview tonight's game below - for free!

Pre-match

Team news

We're a long way from hearing the confirmed starting XIs yet, but there are some things we do know about who might line up.

Click here to read the latest on the involvement of Virgil van Dijk, Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah among others.

Pre-match

Derby day

Hello and welcome to Liverpoolfc.com's live matchday blog for the 230th Merseyside derby, which takes place at Anfield this evening.

As well as local pride, a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup is also at stake tonight. Let's turn the city red...

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