Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool deserve credit for getting back to winning ways after they responded to their Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United last month by beating Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside derby.
After a frustrating first period that saw Blues striker Beto have a goal ruled out for offside before hitting the post, Arne Slot's team improved after the break and eventually made the breakthrough before the hour mark through Diogo Jota.
The victory, in the 246th meeting between the clubs, was enough to restore the Premier League leaders' advantage to 12 points once more and Van Dijk believes the players should be recognised for overcoming a difficult first half to ensure they put the disappointment of the Wembley loss behind them.
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“I think the Merseyside derby is a difficult game," Van Dijk said. "It was not the best first half, but a very good second half, well-deserved [result] based on the second half. But it's a big game and coming back from the international break, coming back from a disappointing final, it was very important to get back to winning ways and we did.
“Playing against a team who has strength and they have quality to make it difficult for you. Those two moments, the one that was offside and the one I failed to clear, I think was in that same period so maybe the period of anxiety creeps in from the fans but the way we settled it and played especially the second half that looks very good and something we should focus on more than the uncertainties [defensively].
"I don't know [if the break helped everyone]. I liked it. It was a tough week for me personally with two difficult games so everyone had their own situation but what was good was that we could get away for a couple of days, switch off completely, and then back on it from last Saturday.
"I think we trained very well, these games are always going to be intense, very direct, second-ball fight and we had to be ready for it, and apart from the two defensive uncertainties, which could allow anxiety to creep in, I thought we did really well in the second half.
"It's a funny world. Doubts outside all of a sudden [after the Carabao Cup loss] but the fact is there are eight games to go, there is a 12-point gap, and we focus on putting points on the board and playing the best football we can play but if we have to fight we have to fight.
"We have to run – the manager mentioned it in his press conference – we have to out-work opponents, and in certain games we didn't do it and couldn't get results so it just shows you have to work your socks off to get results. Two defensive 'uncertainties' doesn't define the whole game. It was always going to be tough against Everton, who don't concede many goals."
Van Dijk steered clear of entering himself into the debate around the yellow card shown to James Tarkowski after his lunge on Alexis Mac Allister and also played the significance of a first-half mistake that allowed striker Beto to go clean through before hitting the post.
It was revealed on Thursday morning the PGMOL have privately conceded Tarkowski should have been dismissed by referee Sam Barrott but Van Dijk opted to avoid adding to the noise around the challenge that left Mac Allister in a heap after 11 minutes.
The Reds skipper added: "I don't want to have any issues. The referee decides on the pitch and the VAR decides what he sees on the TV and we have to play on. Did it set the mood for the game? Not really.
"It was always going to be a physical game because that is also Everton's game, very physical and they make it very difficult for teams – like what happened at Goodison Park and we had to be ready for it.
"The majority of the game we showed we were definitely ready for it. That moment didn't change the game, we were prepared for that.
"In football sometimes you can make mistakes, no-one plays football without making mistakes, and unfortunately I am playing in a position where if I miss-hit the ball it could lead to a very big chance and that's what happened.
"That moment goes in slow motion but whatever happened during the game there is so much time to turn your defensive uncertainties around. We didn't give much away: an offside goal and the one I just had to clear. It doesn't define the whole performance."
