Externally, Arne Slot remained cool, calm and collected on the touchline with a minor fist-pump and a few moments to steady himself.
Internally, the Liverpool head coach knows this was the most important goal of the season. This was far from an accomplished performance and he will note that but Slot also knows that does not matter on days like this.
All that matters – and all that will be remembered – is the feeling those away fans had when Virgil van Dijk scored in the 100th minute.
All that the players will recall from their first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium is the euphoria they felt at celebrating over in the Red corner at full-time, taking it in turns to lap up the praise of the jubilant supporters and dancing around after getting one over their old rivals.
All that Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, the departing heroes, will recall from their final Merseyside Derby is the joy at overcoming the Toffees in what was the first game Evertonians looked for when the fixtures were released last July.
This fixture, it should be said, always had the hallmarks of a banana skin. Even if Liverpool were runaway champions and Everton were languishing in a relegation fight, neither of which are true, this would be a tough test for the Reds.
Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Everton was the most important of the season for Arne Slot
But the Dutchman, who has come under pressure, remained calm and collected afterwards
But several factors combined to make it a nightmarish scenario: David Moyes’s side had eyes on Europe and entered the game in solid form, the new stadium factor, the fact Liverpool have had a torrid season and have looked vulnerable against physical sides.
In truth, a draw would have not been the worst result ever for Slot, even though that would not have helped a manager who is under intense scrutiny with large sections of the fanbase.
Everton are exactly the sort of opposition that have repeatedly bullied Liverpool this year. But they didn’t. They laid some punches but Liverpool stood tall and did not wilt in moments of adversity such as when the home side equalised.
There were mistakes and shaky touches from the likes of Ibrahima Konate and third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman but it did not matter. This victory, however unlikely it might have seemed at times in the second half, is seismic for Slot and Co. They could have easily melted in the heat of the cauldron-like atmosphere but stood firm, then took their chances when they came at the other end.
It moves them seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League football. That should be unassailable with five games to play. Even with tough tests to come against four of the current top seven, Liverpool should be home and dry. Showing the steel to score so late and against the run of play in the second half should give the Reds confidence that they can rise again and win tough tests – this season and next.
This must now act as a catalyst and the start of turning their fortunes around. The longer-term worry for Liverpool is that the cornerstones of this win were all players who will likely leave in the next 12 months or so: Salah and Robertson, who we know will depart at the end of this term, plus captain Van Dijk.
The new wave of Reds, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, were largely anonymous. Isak’s excuse is that he is not fit after a long-term injury, but £116million Wirtz is not having the impact he should be. It shows that replacing Salah will be much easier said than done.
Departing legends Mo Salah and Andy Robertson both had a big role to play for the Reds
It wasn’t the best performance but all that matters is Virgil van Dijk’s last-gasp winner
His first-half goal was well taken. Right place at the right time, only needing a second to tip a tight game in his side’s balance, remaining calm when the pressure is mounting. The Egyptian has a multitude of attributes that money cannot buy and which data might struggle to prove.
Liverpool must splash the cash this summer but there are few forwards in Europe who can do what Salah, even this version of him in a tough season, can do. Robertson, likewise, might have seen his powers wane over the last 18 months but his leadership will be sorely missed and something they must address.
Van Dijk, the ultimate professional and best defender of this era, will soon enter the final year of his deal. But these are all worries for another day.
Right now, all that matters for Liverpool, Slot and Co is the giant step they have taken for Champions League qualification and how they have left egg on the faces of the blue half of Merseyside.
