It probably was written in the stars for Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman became the most expensive defender in the world when Liverpool finally snagged him from Southampton in the winter window and well he showed just why we wanted to pay the big bucks for the 26-year-old.
The FA Cup match against Everton was never going to be easy as Sam Allardyce had made the away side a tough team to face. We drew 1-1 against them a few weeks ago but this time around we got the win, thanks to a late header from Van Dijk that sent the entire stadium into delirium.
There was not a lot of action on the pitch but a number of crunching tackles before, we were given a soft penalty, which James Milner dispatched with aplomb. Everton, however, did respond with a great counter-attack to level the score when Gylfi Sigurdsson scored and it seemed like the match would end 1-1 with a replay imminent.
But, up rose Van Dijk like a phoenix to head home a corner late in the name, etching his name in Liverpool history as he scored on his debut and knocked Everton out of the FA Cup. He already seems like a great buy due to his towering presence.
There was one bust-up between Mason Holgate and Roberto Firmino with the Everton player pushing Firmino and both players squaring up but that was the only time they away side seemed to have any bite at Anfield. It was a surprise that Holgate was not sent off and instead, Firmino might be investigated with what he said to the Everton man.
Nevertheless, Van Dijk was the talk of the town and here are some of the best reactions on Twitter:
The best Gif to have ever landed on twitter #LFC
— Ben • (@Riddock__) January 6, 2018
Love this angle! almost has a cinematic quality to it.#LFC #VanDijk pic.twitter.com/AS2KSOmTsz
— Im Sardar (@_FILMBuFF_) January 6, 2018
I think it’s a champagne breakfast this morning curtesy of Mr Virgil Van Dijk ⚽️ #LFC #YNWA pic.twitter.com/1rtqIhl55J
— Paul Kelly (@Nobbyfolk) January 6, 2018
— Rii⚜️ (@Eqvator_) January 6, 2018
Van dijk greeting Henderson at melwood this week be like…
#LFC #VanDijk pic.twitter.com/uGiNmHbHsZ— AllThingsLFC (@AllthingLFC) January 6, 2018
If any fan base can spot a world class Centre back its Liverpool fans….we have been watching absolute shite for the past 8 years
So I can say with confidence that Van Dijk is something special that we haven’t had for years
What a debut, what a player #LFC pic.twitter.com/SsP2cDQxjB
— Ben • (@Riddock__) January 6, 2018
Andy Robertson gives this team some good old fashioned Scottish grit and determination.
Van Dijk just gives it some class. The man didn’t even break sweat today.#LFC
— LFC Dagger (@lfc_dagger) January 6, 2018
Most underrated player in our sqaud #LFC #Robertson pic.twitter.com/G2gvnhGxD8
— AllThingsLFC (@AllthingLFC) January 6, 2018
Van Dijk v Everton:
5 Aerial Duels won (more than anyone)
79 Touches (Second most on the pitch)
2 Shots on target (More than anyone)
1 Goal.
2 Interceptions (Most for Liverpool)
62 Passes (More than anyone on the field)
4 Long Passes (More than anyone for Liverpool).— Gerard Lenaghan (@fingac15) January 5, 2018
Now Van Dijk can be bothered playing again and he’s playing a very good team he will prove he’s the best centre back in the league. #LFC
— Dan (@BobbyFirmino9) January 6, 2018
Stat of the day, Van Dijk is the first player to score a winning FA Cup goal at Anfield in a Merseyside derby.
— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) January 5, 2018
How I’m sleeping tonight knowing that van Dijk is my CB pic.twitter.com/X87KUP64Lq
— sal (@sxlwaa_) January 5, 2018
This is how we do it in the Merseyside derby Congratulations on a great debut Virgil van Dijk #Liverpool #LFC pic.twitter.com/0Du3uK792E
— Dirk Kuyt (@Kuyt) January 5, 2018
