Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk needs knee surgery and could miss rest of season

Dutchman picked up injury after reckless challenge by Everton goalkeeper Pickford in Merseyside derby draw

EVERTON RATINGS: Jordan Pickford - 4: Terrible challenge on Van Dijk. Could easily have been sent off and was lucky the Dutchman was offside. Made a couple of great stops but VAR saved the goalkeeper from embarrassment when Henderson’s goal was ruled offside. EPA

Seamus Coleman - 4: Should have cut out the danger for Liverpool’s opening goal. Struggled against the raiding Robertson. Limped off on 31 minutes after aggravating a hamstring injury. PA

Yerry Mina - 4: Dreadful defending for Salah’s goal. Had been efficient enough to that point but made life easy for the Egyptian. AFP

Michael Keane - 7: Great header for the equaliser. The best of the home side’s defenders with a solid performance. PA

Lucas Digne - 6: Frequently looked like he was living on the edge as Liverpool pinged the ball around but managed to hold his ground. Getty

Abdoulaye Doucoure - 7: Forming a useful battling partnership with Allan in the midfield. Made sure things were never easy for Liverpool. PA

Allan - 8: Grew into the game after being left flatfooted by Liverpool’s fast start. Made Thiago’s life uncomfortable. His ability to break up opposition attacks so important . AFP

Andre Gomes - 4: Way off the pace in the first half. Unable to stop the threat of Alexander-Arnold. Replaced by Sigurdsson with 16 minutes to go. Reuters

James Rodriguez - 8: Sometimes touch was awry but capable of turning the game in a flash. Has moments when he is utterly unplayable. The creative hub of Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Getty

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 8: Emerging as a top-class centre forward. Towering header for the second equaliser capped a splendid performance. A constant irritant for Liverpool's defence. AFP

SUBS: Ben Godfrey - (On for Coleman 31') 7: Made his debut when replacing Coleman just after the half hour and was deployed out of position at right back. The 22-year-old centre back more than held his own. PA

Gylfi Sigurdsson - (On for Gomes 72') 5: Was brought on as Everton chased the equaliser. Unable to make much difference. AP

Alex Iwobi - (On for Doucoure 78') N/A. Getty

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Adrian - 4: Nervy, unsure performance. His skittishness transmits itself to defenders. Team is much less secure when the Spaniard is between the sticks. EPA

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6: Good work down the right and a threat in set-piece situations. Influential in the attacking third. Getty

Joel Matip - 5: Stepped up after Van Dijk’s departure. Tested Pickford with an excellent header. Reuters

Virgil van Dijk - N/A: Poleaxed by Pickford early on and limped off after 11 minutes. Had started aggressively, making sure Rodriguez knew he was there. EPA

Andrew Robertson - 6: Always eager to get up the pitch and instrumental in the opening goal. Brings a mean streak to Jurgen Klopp’s side. Getty

Fabinho - 5: Does not get enough chances to shine in this deep role but always puts in the effort. Could have been stronger in challenging Keane before the equaliser. Reuters

Thiago Alcantara - 7: Oozes class. Always keen to get on the ball. Adds an extra dimension to Liverpool’s attack. AFP

Jordan Henderson - 7: Midfield workhorse whose contribution is essential but often overlooked. Thought he had scored the winner but denied by a strange VAR decision. EPA

Sadio Mane - 8: Put away the opening goal expertly and always a danger. Liverpool’s most influential attacker. AFP

Mohamed Salah - 8: Radiates threat and unnerves defenders. Did not strike the ball particularly well up until his goal. Reuters

Roberto Firmino - 5: Not the most eye-catching performance from the Brazilian but he does create room for Mane and Salah. EPA

SUBS: Joe Gomez - (On for Van Dijk 11') 5: Replaced Van Dijk after 11 minutes. Did not do much wrong but the drop-off in leadership was apparent. Reuters

Diogo Jota - (On for Firmino 78') N/A. Drove into the box but was unable to take advantage of a half-chance. AP

Georginio Wijnaldum - (On for Fabinho 90 +1) N/A: Little chance to make any impact in stoppage time. Getty

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk needs surgery after picking up a knee-ligament injury during the derby draw with Everton on Saturday.

The club have confirmed that Van Dijk suffered anterior cruciate knee ligament damage and will go under the surgeon's knife. He will face a fight to play again this season.

Van Dijk was hurt in a reckless challenge by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford in the first half of the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

After the match, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp questioned why no action was taken against Pickford.

"For me it was a clear penalty that I saw. Then obviously we saw the flag went up, so offside. I still thought it was worth a look on the foul but that didn't happen," said Klopp.

The club did not specify a timescale for the 29-year-old defender's return to action.

Van Dijk has been pivotal to Liverpool's resurgence under Jurgen Klopp since making a then world record £75 million ($96.9m) move for a defender from Southampton in January 2018.

The 29-year-old has started every league game for the past two seasons as the Reds won the Champions League in 2019 and ended a 30-year wait to win a league title earlier this year.

"Virgil played for us I don't know how many games in a row. He plays with pain, he plays with pretty much everything, but he couldn't play on. That's not good," said Klopp.

Van Dijk's absence is compounded by goalkeeper Alisson Becker also being sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Without the Brazilian in goal, Klopp's men have conceded nine times in their last two matches, including a historic 7-2 humiliation as Aston Villa two weeks ago.