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Van Dijk Scores Winning Goal for Liverpool Against Everton

Virgil van Dijk made a dream debut for Liverpool by scoring a late winner to seal a 2-1 FA Cup third-round victory against Merseyside rivals Everton.

The 26-year-old headed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s corner past Everton keeper Jordan Pickford in the 84th minute after Gylfi Sigurdsson’s strike had cancelled out James Milner’s controversial 34th-minute penalty, Espnfc.com wrote.

A month after Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin was awarded a soft penalty in the Premier League derby at Anfield, referee Bobby Madley pointed to the spot after Adam Lallana went to ground following slight contact from Mason Holgate. Sigurdsson’s goal midway through the second half hauled Everton level, but Van Dijk’s header capped home the side’s win.

Van Dijk will reflect on a mixed debut, however, despite his goal. Now the world’s most expensive defender following his £75 million arrival from Southampton, Van Dijk is under huge pressure to perform at Anfield because defensive lapses have proved so costly for Jurgen Klopp’s team in the past two years.

The former Celtic centre-half has been signed to stiffen up the Liverpool defense and eradicate the mistakes, but he seemed to be afflicted by the problems that actually prompted Klopp to sign him. Van Dijk was easily beaten on the edge of the penalty area by Yannick Bolasie after just five minutes and the same player capitalized on Van Dijk’s overconfidence in possession later in the first half. There were other errors, which can be put down to getting to know his new teammates, but Van Dijk will get better for his new club.

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