LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool needed that. After a season of turmoil, Liverpool needed Virgil van Dijk to rise the highest. They needed Mohamed Salah to conjure up just one more magical moment. They needed a reason to believe.

The defense of their Premier League title has largely been a campaign without joy for Arne Slot’s side, with reserves of hope seeming to dwindle by the week. But with Liverpool there is always a chance, and when the chance came against Everton — this time in the 100th minute – — Van Dijk seized it with the fearlessness and fortitude of a player who knew there were more than just three points on the line.

It was fitting that, as Liverpool faced off against Everton in the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Arsenal and Manchester City were preparing to star in this weekend’s main event over at the Etihad. That Liverpool were only the warmup act to this season’s title decider should and will sting for the reigning champions — but a last-gasp 2-1 win at the home of their local rivals will go some way to soothing the pain.

Make no mistake, this was not Liverpool at their ebullient best — far from it. But Slot’s side did, at least, show the grit and character that has evaded it for too much of this torrid campaign and, in doing so, inflicted yet more misery on an Everton team many had regarded as the favorite going into this encounter.

The prematch scenes on Merseyside left little doubt about how much this meant for Everton supporters. They lined the streets with flares and flags to greet the team coach before unfurling an impressive tifo banner as the players readied themselves for action.

The energy in the stands transmitted instantly to the players on the pitch, and Everton hassled and harried their opponents with the fervor of a team smelling blood. Certainly, Liverpool went into Sunday’s game as a wounded beast, having bowed out of the UEFA Champions League with a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, in the process of which they also lost striker Hugo Ekitike to a serious Achilles injury.

So when the lively Iliman Ndiaye found the back of the Liverpool net inside 27 minutes, it seemed as if yet another miserable prophecy were set to be fulfilled. Perhaps, though, the fates were smiling on Slot’s side, with a VAR intervention sparing the Reds’ blushes and offering them a platform to show their mettle.

Just 66 seconds later, Liverpool were ahead thanks to the brilliance of Salah, who slotted coolly past Jordan Pickford after a superb pass from Cody Gakpo. All of a sudden, it was as if the blue mist had lifted.

Salah beamed as he stood before the euphoric away end, having just tied Steven Gerrard for the most goals scored by a Liverpool player in Premier League Merseyside derbies (nine). It has not been a vintage Salah season by any stretch of the imagination — and it will be his last — but the sight of the Egypt international being “crowned” by teammate Curtis Jones after carving out another slice of history seemed like a poignant footnote in one of the all-time great Anfield careers.

Liverpool, though, did not have it all their own way. So often this term, they seem to have conspired to make life hard for themselves, and they did so again when some lackadaisical defending allowed the in-form Beto to dispatch a smart Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall delivery early in the second half. It was Beto’s sixth goal involvement in as many games, with his instinctive finish once more lighting the blue touchpaper inside Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Liverpool’s anguish was compounded by the sight of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili leaving the pitch on a stretcher in the immediate aftermath of the goal, having sustained what Slot later described as a “big wound” to a leg. His replacement, Freddie Woodman, could hardly have asked for a more daunting arena in which to make his Premier League debut for the club, but the former Preston North End man stood firm, and so did his teammates. Liverpool were not electrifying, but they did not need to be.

Instead, they made life difficult for Everton, who never quite managed to wrestle back the momentum they had enjoyed during the early stages of this contest. And when, in the dying minutes of stopping time, Dominik Szoboszlai swung an enticing corner kick into the Everton box, Van Dijk was there to apply the finishing touch.

The Dutchman’s thumping header helped yield a victory that bolsters Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League qualification, with the Reds now seven points clear of sixth-place Chelsea with just five games left to play. More importantly, though, Van Dijk’s goal recaptured something intangible for Liverpool; the feeling that they should never quite be written off.

“It’s a privilege to represent this club and today they showed what it means to the players to represent this club,” Slot said in his postmatch news conference. “And the fans were, as they’ve been throughout the whole season, a big, big, big support for us. And to beat them then in the first game in their new stadium after what I just said, the week we had, is an enormous compliment to everybody involved in Liverpool FC.”

For Slot, the full-time whistle must have felt like a release valve — a rare moment to stop and exhale in a breathlessly bewildering season that has prompted endless speculation over his future. For those in the away end, too, this was an afternoon to savor.

As the home fans filed out of the stadium, the Liverpool supporters launched into a defiant chorus of “Champions, champions.” With the end of the campaign firmly on the horizon, their chances to air that refrain are now few and far between.

On Sunday, though, Liverpool seized their chance. How they needed it.

After a massive night of high-flying moments and title changes on Night 1, the WrestleMania 42 action continues on Night 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Two of the biggest superstars on the roster, literally, square off in the first match of the night, as “The Ruler” Oba Femi attempts to slay “The Beast” Brock Lesnar. Also on the card is a six-man ladder match for the men’s Intercontinental Championship, and a pair of singles matches for the United States Championship and the WWE Women’s Championship.

In the main event, CM Punk puts the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Roman Reigns.

Follow along with every moment of WrestleMania Night 2.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has called for FIFA to cover the full rail cost for New Yorkers attending the World Cup, as NJ Transit train ticket prices are set for $150 to get to MetLife Stadium for matches.

Schumer released a statement on Sunday, calling on FIFA to pay the full fair, which is astronomically higher than the regular cost to travel from Penn Station to the Meadowlands, while understanding that “FIFA is set to rake in approximately $11 billion in revenue off the tournament while New York fans are being hit with $150 NJ Transit round-trip tickets to get to the game.”

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will host eight matches during the World Cup, including the final on July 19. The usual price is $12.90 for the Meadowlands train from Penn Station, but it will rise to $150 beginning June 13 and ending July 19. There will also be shuttles available worth $80.

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NJ Transit CEO Kirs Kolluri defended the fare hikes on Friday, saying the ultimate cost to the company shouldn’t burden New Jersey commuters.

“It is an exciting moment for New Jersey to showcase New Jersey’s diversity as well as its economic standing in the country and in the world. Equally important, (Gov. Mikie Sherrill) has said that New Jersey commuters cannot and will not subsidize the movement of fans going to the game, because that would not be fair,” Kolluri said, reiterating that the tournament will cost NJ Transit $48 million.

Penn Station is also scheduled to be partially closed for up to four hours before each World Cup match, which will obviously disrupt regular commuters and travelers eight times during the tournament.

NEW JERSEY GOV MIKIE SHERRILL RIPS FIFA AFTER REPORTS THAT NJ TRANSIT TICKETS TO WORLD CUP WILL BE OVER $100

Schumer argues it’s unfair for New Yorkers to have to deal with the price hike, especially considering FIFA is eliminating parking at MetLife Stadium. Also, parking at nearby American Dream mall is approximately $225, while walking access is being prohibited as well.

In turn, mass transit is “effectively the only way in or out of the stadium on match days,” Schumer’s statement read. But Schumer isn’t lambasting NJ Transit — he understands the financials the company has to deal with.

It’s FIFA he’s pointing the finger at for not helping with the cost.

“The total NJ Transit operation to move fans to and from MetLife is projected to cost $62 million, with approximately $11 million dedicated to security alone. The federal government is contributing $10.6 million and the NY/NJ Host Committee is contributing just over $3 million, leaving NJ Transit to foot a $48 million bill with zero financial contribution from FIFA.

“Meanwhile, FIFA has told other host cities they can offer fans mass rail for as little as $2.50 round trip, a fraction of what New York fans are being charged.”

A general view of MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Train Station is seen from a NJ Transit train before the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 9, 2025. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Schumer added that, “Charging more than eleven times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple.”

FIFA’s budgeted revenue for the 2023 to 2026 cycle is approximately $11 billion, which marks a 71% increase over the previous cycle. It also marks the most lucrative World Cup in the tournament’s history.

Schumer’s statement also pointed out ticket prices for match-goers are around $700 for the group stage, and the final at MetLife Stadium is as high as $10,000 to get into the door under FIFA’s dynamic pricing model.

“We are carrying more fans, more riders, and more disruption than any other region in this tournament,” Schumer added. “FIFA needs to step up accordingly. Past practice does not cut it when you are eliminating parking, shutting down Penn Station, and forcing every fan onto one transit system. FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill.”

FIFA may not have historically contributed to public transportation costs in previous tournaments, but Schumer argues New York and New Jersey isn’t every other host region. It’s the most densely populated area in the country, and it will be host to eight matches.

Kolluri also noted that, if the regular $12.90 fare were to stay in place, the $48 million bill for NJ Transit would be subsidized for commuters by 92%.

“No one that I have spoken to thinks that’s fair or reasonable. Commuters in New Jersey should not carry the cost years into the future for a wonderful event, no doubt. But the fans going to the games should burden the cost. That’s all we’re trying to say,” Kolluri said.

NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri and Alex Lasry, CEO of the 2026 FIFA World Cup New York New Jersey Host Committee, speak during a press briefing on the regional mobility plan for the World Cup in Newark, New Jersey, on April 17, 2026. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

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With the plan now officially in place, FIFA World Cup COO Heimo Schirgi issued the following statement to Fox News Digital:

“Ever since the host city agreements were signed in 2018, FIFA has worked in collaboration with the Host Committees and their partners to develop a transportation plan that provides efficient and accessible mass transit options for ticketed fans attending the eight matches at NY NJ Stadium. The goal is to minimize congestion, reduce reliance on private vehicles, and ensure the fan experience is positive and memorable, defined by the action on pitch, not delays on the roads.

“The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect. Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup.”

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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