Slot proud of dramatic derby win over Everton - 'About representing Liverpool'

After Mohamed Salah's opener had been cancelled out by Beto in the first-ever meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Reds captain Virgil van Dijk headed home a 100th-minute winner to secure bragging rights and go seven clear of Chelsea in sixth in the race for the Champions League spots.

Slot said the game was about more than the complexion of the table, however, as he paid tribute to his squad for their character and ability to handle the occasion at the home of their local rivals.

“Of course [winning] is very important because we are as ever focused on qualifying for the Champions League," Slot said. “But the lead up to this game it wasn’t as much about the league table, it was also about representing Liverpool.

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“Four days ago we paid our respects to the enormous tragedy that happened at Hillsborough. We also used this for the game today because it’s a privilege to represent this club.

“Today the players showed what it means to represent this club. The fans were, as they have been throughout the whole season, a big, big, big support for us.

“To beat Everton in their first game in the new stadium after the week we had, is an enormous compliment to everybody involved in Liverpool FC.

“I don’t think we’ve had a lot of big moments this season because when we had these big moments scoring in extra time, we scored earlier in extra time and we we able to concede afterwards.

“We haven’t felt a lot of joy this season yet. I completely agree with Virgil that this season has not been of our standards.

"Going out in the quarter-final of the FA Cup and Champions League against from open play the two best teams in the world, with two great managers and unlimited resources, that can happen, let’s put it this way.

“But in the league we are far from where we want to be. But we have to accept that situation because we’ve dropped so many points after playing in Europe.

“It’s nice now after a game in Europe not to concede in the last minute but to score after a game in Europe the winner in extra time, and from a set-piece. You maybe would expect them to score from one, but we did."

Liverpool scored their winning goal with one of the last touches of the game when Van Dijk nodded home from Dominik Szoboszlai's corner in the 10th minute of stoppage time. Slot denied he was initially concerned by the amount of additional time, despite his side conceding six times after stoppage time this term.

Slot added: “If I am correct, it’s been a while since we conceded in extra time. At the moment when I saw (the 11 minutes) going up for extra time, that’s not my first thought.

“And when I looked at my players, it was definitely not my first thought. In that spell, we were getting closer and closer to scoring a goal, and that’s an unbelievable compliment to these players because we have played five games in 15 days with mainly the same players.

“We had to finish the game without a right-back and started without one – by the way, Curtis did really well – with our third goalkeeper and a number nine who has played there in the past but is usually known as a right-winger.

“To show what they showed, is a big, big, big compliment to the mentality of this team."