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.
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...
'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...
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?
Bolasie strikes goalwards on the turn from distance, but it's over the crossbar.
Four minutes of added time to be played...
Yellow Card
Solanke goes into the book.
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!
Substitution
Calvert-Lewin off, Niasse on.
Firmino's snap-volley from a half-cleared free-kick looks destined for goal, but Jagielka gets his head in the way.
Substitution
Double change for the Reds - Solanke and Alexander-Arnold are on, Milner and Gomez off.
Substitution
Lallana goes off for the Reds, Wijnaldum comes on.
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.
Calvert-Lewin goes close to meeting Kenny's delivery, but the ball goes behind for a goal kick to the Reds.
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.
Yellow Card
McCarthy goes into the book.
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.
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.
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.
Substitution
Everton make a change - Rooney is off and Lookman is on.
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.
Kick-Off
Back under way...
Adam Lallana re-starts the game at Anfield.
The story of the first half in numbers...
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.
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.
Goal
GOAL! JAMES MILNER!
No mistake. Get in!
Penalty
Penalty to Liverpool
Lallana is dragged down by Holgate and thre Reds have a spot kick...
Mane lines one up from just outside the area with his left boot, but it doesn't test Pickford.
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.
Match shot
Virgil van Dijk settling in early on at his new home.
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.
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.
Really is frantic stuff here in the opening exchanges. Neither side have been able to gain control of the game just yet.
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.
The Reds arriving...
Inside the dressing room...
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.
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.
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.”
The scene is set...
Light rain falls over Anfield as kick-off approaches..
Fancy a flutter?
Here are the latest match odds from Bet Victor...
Liverpool - 4/11
Draw - 19/5
Everton - 7/1
Sold out
Confirmation that this evening's game is completely sold out.
Not a spare seat in the house - should be a decent atmosphere...
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.
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.
This Is Anfield
And this is what tonight's programme looks like - get yours at the ground!
''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."
Memory lane?
Remember this classic Merseyside derby encounter in the FA Cup?
Transfer news
Academy defender Corey Whelan has agreed a loan move to Yeovil Town until the end of the season. All the best, Corey!
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!
Hendo on Lallana
A nice quote on Liverpool's returning No.20 from the captain below. Read more in his programme notes here.
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!
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.
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...