Liverpool had the edge in recent meetings between the two sides, and if Everton were able to triumph in front of their own fans, it would be a first derby win since April 2024.
European ambitions on the line
The visitors were dealt a huge blow in midweek when leading scorer Hugo Ekitite was ruled out for the season, so much was going to be expected of Alexander Isak, one of two changes from Arne Slot.
Both sides were in need of the points if they wanted to keep alive their European ambitions. Liverpool were sat in the final Champions League qualification place at the start of play, and the Toffees were only a point behind Chelsea in sixth, the finishing position for Europa League qualification.
Dominic Szoboszlai was making his 100th Premier League appearance for the Reds, and it was no surprise that he was one of the most industrious players on the pitch in the opening quarter hour.
Liverpool were under the cosh somewhat in those opening exchanges, with the Hungarian attempting six one-on-one duels, Ibrahima Konate and Mo Salah doing similar, and Cody Gakpo involving himself in five more.
Isak disappointing again
As might've been expected, Everton were on the front foot from the first whistle, and had had three attempts at goal before the visitors had got going.
Once the game began to develop, Curtis Jones began to dominate in midfield, and his 100% pass completion was a standout feature of Liverpool's forward momentum.
Isak remained hugely disappointing once again, and by half-time had only touched the ball on five occasions.
Gakpo (three shots) had come close to opening the scoring before Iliman Ndiaye finished with aplomb to send the locals delirious. Unfortunately for him and them, an offside earlier in the move saw the goal chalked off after a VAR check, and worse was to follow.
Salah equals Gerrard
As Everton attempted to play out from the back just a minute later, Gakpo's stunning pass to Salah left him with the easiest chance to slot the visitors ahead, bringing him level with Steven Gerrard as Liverpool players with the most goals in Merseyside derby history (nine).
The hosts had lost 10 of their previous games in 2025/26 when conceding the opening goal, and Liverpool hadn't been defeated away when scoring the opening goal, so the signs were already ominous for the Toffees, and the goal certainly gave Slot's side renewed impetus.
By half-time, David Moyes might've rued his side's wastefulness, given that they'd had more successful dribbles than their opponents (42.9% compared to 29.6%), won twice as many duels (68% to 32%), attempted more tackles (14 to eight), and won double the amount of them (12 to six).
The Reds were straight out of the blocks at the start of the second half, and if it weren't for Jarrod Branthwaite winning the third of his three attempted duels, Salah would've had a clear run at goal.
Beto draws Everton level
Being a goal ahead afforded Liverpool the opportunity to knock the ball around with ease, leaving Everton chasing shadows.
It took a moment of magic from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to set up Beto to level the scores after 53 minutes. His scoring action ended with Reds' keeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, picking up an injury that required him to be stretchered off, replaced by Freddie Woodman, who'd made just five previous appearances for the club.
Everton were clearly now in the ascendancy, with Jake O'Brien continuously winning both his ground and aerial duels in midfield, and James Garner winning a fourth tackle from six attempted, raising the decibel levels inside the stadium as he did so.
However, it was Gakpo that came closest to adding another, with his fifth shot of the game getting cleared off the line.
Wirtz on fire but Isak is hauled off again
By the hour mark, the game had taken on an end-to-end quality, with both teams throwing caution to the wind by playing an open and expansive game.
Florian Wirtz's five chances created in the game were the most he'd managed in the Premier League to date. Still, with Isak only having one shot and two touches in the Everton box, he was never going to profit from the German's excellence. Subbed off with 20 minutes to go, the Swedish international can have no complaints.
Jones' winning of possession on 13 separate occasions, at least five more than any other player on the pitch with 10 minutes to play, stopped Everton from building up a head of steam, and it also allowed Szoboszlai more time and space more centrally.
Consequently, the latter's 94.2% pass completion provided Liverpool with the ability to get in behind the hosts' defence at will.
Van Dijk wins it at the death
The Toffees' desire for all three points was dented when Branthwaite was stretchered off with another injury, and that contributed to an astonishing 11 minutes of injury time.
Liverpool had already conceded eight times in other EPL matches after the 90-minute mark, making it imperative that their concentration levels remained intact.
Alexis Mac Allister's physicality on his 100th league appearance for the visitors helped to ensure that Everton couldn't make any headway in attack, whilst the raiding from Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong in the wide areas kept the Toffees' full-backs at bay too.
Teen sensation Rio Ngumoha had the chance to win it with his second shot in the 97th minute, but skied his effort with only Jordan Pickford to beat.
Just two minutes later, however, Virgil van Dijk got his head to Szoboslai's corner to win the match with his first effort on target.
An 18th goal in the last 15 minutes of the second half is more than any other team in the Premier League has managed this season, and keeps them three points behind Aston Villa, who'd won a seven-goal thriller at Villa Park against Sunderland.
