Setelah gol penalti James Milner di babak pertama mampu dibalas Gilfy Sigurdsson, van Dijk mencuat di menit-menit akhir untuk menentukan kemenangan laskar Jürgen Klopp 2-1.
Di pertandingan ini, Liverpool menurunkan bek termahalnya, Virgil van Dijk, sejak menit awal. Terlihat pertahanan The Reds cukup kukuh dalam membendung manuver-manuver tim tamu.
Tuan rumah mendapatkan momentum bagus saat laga memasuki menit ke-25. Milner berada pada ruang yang bagus untuk melepas tembakan. Sayang, aksinya itu masih melenceng dari sararan, tipis saja.
Demikian juga upaya Sadio Mane delapan menit kemudian. Dari luar kotak penalti, bintang Senegal ini menjajal gawang The Toffees. Akan tetapi, dentumannya itu melambung tinggi di atas mistar gawang.
Kebuntuan pertandingan akhirnya terpecahkan menginjak menit ke-35. Liverpool mendapatkan hadiah penalti dan Milner maju sebagai eksekutor. Sang wakil kapten menjalankan tugasnya dengan sempurna.
Liverpool langsung tancap gas di paruh kedua melalui tandukan Joe Gomez dari jarak dekat. Nahas, sentuhan sang bek tidak menjurus ke sasaran. Papan skor belum berubah.
Sejurus kemudian, giliran Adam Lallana yang coba membawa keunggulan ganda bagi timnya. Namun, tembakannya dari luar box Everton masih melebar. Demikian juga usaha Andy Robertson.
Di menit ke-63, van Dijk menunjukkan kebolehannya di hadapan publik Anfield, menyambut bola dengan sundulan. Sayang, aksi sang defender termahal dunia ini hanya nyaris berbuah gol.
Alih-alih menggandakan skor, tuan rumah justru kecolongan menginjak menit ke-67. Sigurdsson mencuat untuk menyeimbangkan skor jadi 1-1. Akan tetapi, keunggulan Everton tak bertahan lama.
Enam menit sebelum pertadingan bubar, sang rekrutan anyar van Dijk mendonasi gol debut bagi Liverpool. Menyambut umpan matang Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, bek internasional Belanda ini mencocornya dengan tepat sasaran. 2-1.
Gol van Dijk sekaligus memastikan Liverpool melaju ke putaran keempat Piala FA.
"Menjadi kapten Liverpool adalah hal tersulit di dunia sepak bola, karena sosok terakhir yang mengenakan ban kapten sebelum dia adalah Steven Gerrard."
Pemain No.4 ini menjadi penentu kemenangan 2-1 di putaran ketiga saat pertandingan di Anfield hanya menyisakan waktu enam menit, dengan menjangkau corner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Sejumlah rekan setim - dan satu kompatriot yang juga mantan the Reds - memanfaatkan media sosial untuk memberi tribut pada pemain internasional Belanda ini setelah peluit panjang.
Berikut ini beberapa pesan positif untuk Van Dijk...
The boy @VirgilvDijk Congrats bro and welcome to Liverpool #YNWA pic.twitter.com/CO4OlUJ89q
Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez has been linked with Liverpool and Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool have made contact with Leicester City over a January move for Riyad Mahrez, according to reports.
Algeria international Mahrez has been a key player for Leicester since signing from Le Havre three years ago and played a huge role in the club’s Premier League truimph in 2016.
Mahrez, who was named in the PFA Team of the Year for his efforts during that campaign, has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona are said to have expressed interest in securing his services but Liverpool lead the pack having made contact with the Foxes over a deal, according to L’Equipe.
The Reds remain interested in signing long-term target Thomas Lemar, however, and both players could be seen as replacements for Philippe Coutinho, who is expected to join Barcelona for a fee worth over £140million.
Liverpool have reportedly made contact over a move for Mahrez (Picture: Getty)
Asked about Mahrez’s future at Leicester, manager Claude Puel said this week: ‘I want to keep all my best players in the squad. Riyad is a valuable player to the team.
‘When I discuss things with him he has shown a good attitude, he is enjoying his football. He is a happy player. This is a good thing.
‘He likes to play with his team-mates. He has improved all his stats with assists and goals. It is all positive for him. I want to continue this work with all my best players, like Riyad.
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‘No (he hasn’t said he wants to leave). He is happy with the squad. After that, it is speculation. For me, there is no problem. He is happy to play with his team-mates. He loves football.
‘In the transfer window, people can make speculation about players and transfers, but I am not worried because I like the player. It is easy to speak with him and he likes the football and this is the most important thing.’
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