Liverpool won the 248th Merseyside derby in dramatic fashion.

Iliman Ndiaye appeared to have given Everton the lead from Jake O’Brien’s cross but a VAR review ruled the defender strayed offside in the build-up.

Two minutes later, Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock by sweeping home Cody Gakpo’s cutback to the far post after Dwight McNeil lost possession.

Beto pulled David Moyes’ side level early into the second half when he slid in to meet Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s dangerous cross past Giorgi Mamardashvili.

But in the tenth minute of added time, Virgil van Dijk headed in the winner from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner to snatch maximum points for the Reds.

Arne Slot’s side opened up a seven-point lead on Chelsea in the race for the final Champions League spot while the Blues dropped to 10th in the table.

Here were the key talking points from Hill Dickinson Stadium:

Old guard usher in new era

Hill Dickinson Stadium’s first Merseyside derby would always be an occasion for the ages yet it was the old guard who dominated in new surroundings.

Liverpool paid a maiden visit to the banks of the River Mersey intent on not only getting back to winning ways but also righting last season’s wrongs.

For all the fanfare around their Premier League title success, a final trip to Goodison Park for Arne Slot’s side was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Then as now, Mohamed Salah nudged the Reds into the lead before a centre-back powered home dramatically in stoppage time to upset the odds.

A ninth strike against the old enemy ensured the Egyptian will bow out level with Steven Gerrard for their second most league goals scored in derbies.

Virgil van Dijk, too, produced a seminal moment as the latest defender to score a decisive stoppage-time effort that tipped the balance of power.

The Liverpool captain already has form for rising ot the occasion in derbies after announcing himself with a debut goal in the 2018 FA Cup tie at Anfield.

A new era for the derby began with familiar faces delivering some of the hallmarks that have often make this fixture such a compelling spectacle.

Moyes’ best-laid plans derailed

Evertonians could be forgiven for treating this derby loss with ambivalence.

Whenever their neighbours are floundering, as the fallen Premier League champions have this season, the temptation to upset the odds increases.

For a time, it looked like David Moyes’ side would take something from this contest either side of the interval despite Iliman Ndiaye’s disallowed opener.

But true to form, the Blues’ best-laid plans were derailed by two unforeseen setbacks following Beto’s clinical leveller beyond Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper may have come off worse in a collision with the No.9 yet he would be on the receiving end of a similar misfortune.

A clash of heads with Ibrahima Konate saw Beto withdrawn at a time when he had been terrorising the visitors’ backline after a fifth goal in six outings.

Matters worsened in defence as Jarrad Branthwaite suffered what appeared to be another serious hamstring injury as he was stretchered off distraught.

Everton may have left behind Goodison’s years of misfortune but Sod’s Law clearly has still accompanied them in the move to Bramley-Moore Dock.

Reds see futher history repeating

Despite its setting, this derby also had echoes of the 2012 FA Cup semi-final.

For Liverpool, the parallels were inescapable as they snatched a 2-1 victory on a vast, Wembley-esque playing surface while basking in April sunshine.

Slot is clearly no Kenny Dalglish, who masterminded that victory 14 years ago, but he will appreciate the pair’s shared history in this particular fixture.

Alexander Isak reprised the Andy Carroll role as a costly yet underwhelming striker while a well travelled third-choice goalkeeper was thrown into the mix.

Mamardashvili’s injury forced the visitors to turn to Freddie Woodman for only his second appearance since arriving as a supplrementary squad option.

The 29-year-old’s only prior involvement was as part of an under-strength side which exited the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace in October.

Woodman’s lack of regular game time, however, did not appear to faze him as he commanded his area well and denied Ndiaye during the closing stages.

With Alisson not expected back until later this month, the one-time Newcastle stopper could enjoy his own Brad Jones moment in the intervening period.