Curtis Jones turns up the heat as Liverpool nick the derby at the death

Liverpool pinched a classic Merseyside derby 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute winner silencing the blue half of the city and sending the Reds’ away end into orbit. And if the late drama wasn’t enough, Curtis Jones lobbed in an afters volley, questioning Everton’s aspirations with the sort of needle that keeps this rivalry properly spicy.

Jones’ post-match sizzle

The Liverpool midfielder didn’t tiptoe around it. Asked about chatter from across Stanley Park about closing the gap with a win, Jones essentially said it sums Everton up if that’s the bar they’re setting, especially in a season when Liverpool haven’t been at their slickest. His message was plain: Liverpool look ahead, not over their shoulder, and their gaze is fixed on the Champions League places.

How the derby unfolded

Everton came out of the blocks fast and thought they’d struck first, only for Iliman Ndiaye’s finish to be ruled offside. That warning shot shook Liverpool into life, and soon Mohamed Salah was sliding home after Cody Gakpo picked the right pass to split the lines. The hosts wouldn’t go quietly, though, and they levelled when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall threaded one through for Beto to strike—proper derby chaos.

Then came the sting. As legs faded and nerves frayed, Liverpool’s captain rose to the moment. Van Dijk, cool as you like, produced the decisive finish deep, deep into stoppage time. It was ruthless, it was clinical, and it was the mark of a team that believes they’ll find a way even when their rhythm’s off.

What it means for the table

That late punch leaves Liverpool seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea and in a commanding spot to nail down a Champions League return. Not bad for Arne Slot’s lot, who had lost their previous four on the road in all competitions and badly needed a statement away day.

Everton, meanwhile, have hit a sticky patch—just one win in four league outings—and sit 10th, now eight points adrift of their neighbours after this one. For Sean Dyche’s men, it’s a reminder that fine margins and big moments still tilt red on derby day.

Fan reaction: social sizzle

Reds on X loved Jones’ swagger, hailing him for “cooking” Everton with a calm, clinical put-down, while some Blues bristled at the cheek of it. That’s derby folklore: big result, bigger opinions, and a quote that’ll live rent-free until the next one.

The road ahead

Liverpool welcome Crystal Palace next as they look to tighten their grip on the top four. Everton head to West Ham, where the Toffees need a response and a bit more punch in both boxes. If you’re keeping an eye on odds and form swings before the weekend, have a look at the best betting sites for the latest markets.

Bottom line? Liverpool found a way, again. The captain delivered, Jones stirred the pot, and the red half of Merseyside marches on with momentum—and with Europe’s elite firmly in sight.