Liverpool 2-0 Everton: Liverpool booked an important victory over fellow townsman Everton on Monday evening. Cody Gakpo made his first goal for the troubled top club in the Merseyside Derby. Trainer Jürgen Klopp was relieved after the victory.
“Everyone had their part tonight,” concluded the troubled trainer afterwards in front of the Sky Sports cameras. “This was so important. If three or four guys play a top game, that’s not enough. You need everyone and today everyone was great. Also the substitutes.”
That was an important comment, because Klopp finally had something to choose from. James Milner, Diogo Jota, Naby Keita and Bobby Fimino, among others, joined the team, while Virgil van Dijk was also on the bench. “We do have something to choose from again. We needed that. But the guys were great. Extraordinary. That’s the point, it’s okay to make mistakes, but we have to react.”
“And that was brilliant,” said Klopp after the Liverpool 2-0 Everton. He saw the captain take the leadership role. Jordan Henderson was great. A single-person pressing machine. Not normal. It’s a real captain. But Fabinho was also great in midfield. And what about Joe Gomez and Joël Matip. Or Stefan Bajcetic? Everyone was good.”
Now duels with Newcastle United and Real Madrid await. The form may have been found at the right time. Although Klopp is careful. “It would be nice if this was the harbinger, but we still have to show it. We have to keep building and getting better. But with this audience anything is possible. What they showed again today… Very special. Whatever they ask me tonight, I’m going to do it for them. Except taking my clothes off. I love these supporters.”
Virgil van Dijk nominated for FIFA Team of the Year
In other Liverpool news, Virgil van Dijk has a chance to win a spot in the FIFA Team of the Year. The defender of Liverpool and the Dutch national team is one of the 26 nominees announced on Monday.
Players from all over the world could put together their favorite team. A shortlist of 26 candidates has been compiled from all entries, and Van Dijk is responsible for the Dutch contribution to that shortlist. The other defenders nominated are João Cancelo, Alphonso Davies, Achraf Hakimi, Josko Gvardiol, Theo Hernández, Antonio Rüdiger and Thiago Silva.
Van Dijk has already been selected twice in the FIFA World Team of the Year. He was part of the star teams from 2019 and 2020. Whether it comes to a hat trick, Van Dijk will hear during the FIFA gala on February 26 in Paris.
