Salah focused on “right farewell” as Liverpool edge Everton in derby

• Mohamed Salah scores in Merseyside derby to draw level with Steven Gerrard’s club record
• Liverpool forward reiterates desire to finish strongly before summer departure
• Virgil van Dijk seals late win as Reds keep Champions League hopes alive

There was a familiarity to it. A big game, a big moment, and Mohamed Salah delivering when Liverpool needed him.

His goal in the 2-1 win over Everton was his ninth in a Merseyside derby, drawing him level with Steven Gerrard. Not that he lingered on it. The focus, as it has been in recent weeks, is on how this ends.

“It feels great, to be fair,” Salah said afterwards. “The most important thing was to help the team to just settle down and keep more confidence.”

Liverpool needed that. It was tense, as these games tend to be, and Beto’s equaliser in the second half only added to the anxiety inside Hill Dickinson Stadium. Then came Virgil van Dijk in stoppage time, rising to secure three points that could yet define their season.

For Salah, the wider picture is unavoidable now. He confirmed last month that he will leave at the end of the campaign. Five games remain.

“I wish I just keep scoring and help the team at least to achieve Champions League qualification this season,” he said. “And hopefully I say farewell in the right way.”

There’s no grand statement there. No attempt to shape a legacy. Just a sense of wanting to finish properly, which, at a club like Liverpool, tends to matter.

Van Dijk knows that better than most. He has shared a dressing room with Salah through title wins, European nights and difficult spells too.

“There will be a lot of words coming out of my mouth over the next couple of weeks on him,” the captain said. “But listen, he is so important for us, on and off the pitch.”

He spoke about appreciation, how it often grows louder once a player has gone. In Salah’s case, it’s already there, though perhaps it will intensify as the reality of his departure gets closer.

“He is an outstanding teammate,” Van Dijk added. “We have been through everything together; highs, lows.”

There’s still work to do before the tributes begin. Liverpool are chasing Champions League qualification, and this win keeps them firmly in the fight.

Salah’s role in that is obvious. Even now, with the end approaching, he remains central. Goals, presence, reliability. The things that have defined his time at Anfield.

“And he knows it,” Van Dijk said. “That’s the main focus.”

It felt telling. Amid the noise around contracts and exits, the job isn’t finished yet. Salah seems intent on making sure of that.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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