Late Liverpool Win in Merseyside Derby a 'Unbelievable Compliment,' Says Slot

Arne Slot hailed Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Everton as an "unbelievable compliment" to his players’ resilience, secured by Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time winner in the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Reds overcame adversity, playing without a recognized right-back and finishing the match with third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman after Giorgi Mamardashvili’s injury. Slot expressed relief at reversing their recent trend of conceding late goals, noting his team’ determination in the added time.

"It’s been a while since we conceded in stoppage time," Slot said. "When I saw the board go up for extra time, that wasn’t my first thought. We were getting closer to scoring, and the players showed incredible mentality—especially after five games in 15 days with mostly the same squad."

The win solidified Liverpool’s hold on fifth place, the final Champions League qualification spot, but Slot emphasized the significance of representing the club with pride. "We’re far from our league goals, but today was about more than the table—it was about showing what Liverpool means to these players," he said.

He praised the fans for their unwavering support and called the victory in Everton’s new stadium, following a demanding week, "an enormous compliment to everyone at Liverpool FC."