Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall says scoring against Liverpool would ‘Trump’ meeting US President
Scoring the winning goal for Everton against Liverpool would be more memorable for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall than when he met US President Donald Trump
17:00, 17 Apr 2026Updated 17:07, 17 Apr 2026
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates his stoppage time equaliser for Everton at Brentford and (inset) receives his FIFA Club World Cup winners’ medal with Chelsea from US President Donald Trump
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall admits scoring the winning goal for Everton against Liverpool in the first Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium would ‘Trump’ him meeting the most powerful human being on the planet.
Before making his £25million transfer from Chelsea to Everton last August, one of Dewsbury-Hall’s final acts with the Londoners was to help them lift the FIFA Club World Cup as they defeated Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the venue where David Moyes’ men would kick-off their Premier League Summer Series later that month, and which will also host this year’s World Cup final.
The guest of honour for the post-match presentation was US President Donald Trump. Recalling the ceremony, Dewsbury-Hall said: “The only time I spoke to him was when he gave me the medal.
“It was very straightforward, he said to me something like: ‘Oh congratulations. This is an amazing achievement.’
FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page
“I was like: ‘Oh, thank you. I appreciate it.’ Apart from that, there was nothing.
“Others might have had longer conversations, those who were closer to him. I think the plan was for him to give the trophy to us and then leave but one of the other lads said he just wanted to stay and enjoy it.
“It ended up being an iconic moment, it was definitely surreal. Whatever anyone thinks, he’s still the President of America and the fact we are lifting a trophy next to him on stage was quite weird.”
While that moment will always be etched in the 27-year-old’s mind, what about the prospect of a derby winner? Dewsbury-Hall is unequivocal in his response.
He said: “Ha! That will jump it easily.”
Although he grew up in the East Midlands and joined Leicester City’s academy as an eight-year-old, Dewsbury-Hall has always appreciated the magnitude of when Everton face Liverpool. He said: “I grew up watching the Merseyside Derby. I can say it’s one of the best in world football and I feel almost privileged that I am going to be involved in it.
“I knew the importance of the games before I came here but, being around the place, I know more. Look, I’m not from within the city but I know the passion is different. I’m not a Scouser, I wasn’t born and raised here. But I’m a scholar of football.
“I watch every single football match. I love it. I’m trying to get immersed in it here, I’m trying to understand the importance of everything.
“If you do something in a big game like this, it will give you a little gold star next to your name, won’t it? That’s enough motivation for me.”
Given Dewsbury-Hall’s enthusiasm for the game, he’s perplexed by some of his fellow professionals who claim to have little appetite for watching football matches they’re not involved in. He said: “I can’t understand that, I genuinely don’t get it.
“If you were to ask my missus, she would tell you that she doesn’t see me. I just take myself off into the living room and I will watch any football match.
“That’s always been me. I just live and breathe the game, simple as that.
“She’ll put something on Netflix, the odd time, to make me try to watch it and I’ll be like: ‘Nah, I’m just going in the other room!’
“It’s my life. Anything I have ever done has been for this and it always will be.”
So, as such an avid viewer of games, which Merseyside Derby moments of the past stand out for him? Dewsbury-Hall said: “Well, the Phil Jagielka goal into the Kop in 2014, that will always stick in my mind.
“I remember the one Everton won at Anfield during Covid. There are loads.
“I know it’s not good to say this but I remember Curtis Jones scoring a worldie in the FA Cup. You remember them because it’s a derby and you focus that bit more on them.
“I’m a football fan and if you’re like that, you’re like: ‘Okay, the Merseyside Derby is on!’ (at this point he rubs his hands together). Imagine how I am feeling now, knowing I’m going to play in it?”
One goal that the midfielder cannot forget came at the end of Everton’s last home derby. James Tarkowski’s thunderous 98th-minute volley with what was the last kick of the match from a Blues player, ensured that after 120 matches over 130 years, Liverpool did not finish with a winning record at Goodison Park.
Dewsbury-Hall said: “Tarky’s not shut up about it. I remember watching it live.
“I was just at home, and it was some atmosphere. When that went in, it was unbelievable.
“It is one of the most iconic goals of recent history at Everton. Tarky has mentioned it a fair few times – and rightly so.
“You know the technique is unbelievable, although I have not seen him do it much since. I have to give him credit there it was absolutely on the money.
“It just shows the importance of it. And if you score big goals in big games, it gives you a slice of history.”
In terms of getting himself on the scoresheet, Dewsbury-Hall will fancy his chances. Although he netted a dozen times for Leicester as they won promotion by topping the Championship in 2023/24, having struck the stoppage-time equaliser at Brentford last time out, his seven goals so far for Everton this term is by far his best top flight tally.
He said: “That year I got 12 for Leicester was my best goalscoring season, but people always say: ‘Ah, but that was in the Championship.’
“I agree, there is a big difference in the level between the two leagues, as a player it just is. So, I’m happy that I’m showing I can do it at the highest level.
“I always believed that I knew I could. Now it’s actually showing that to people.
“They could always say: ‘You’ve not done it, you’ve not done it.’ I knew it would come because I’m improving yearly on how I’m getting into the right positions and how I’m finishing chances.
“So, this to me isn’t like a shock season, in the most humble way, because I’ve put in the hours to improve it. I’m hoping that I can get a couple more.
“Like I said, I had targets in my mind at the start of the season, so hopefully I can achieve them. Then next season again, it’s not one of those where I want to have a good goalscoring season then just drop off, it’s about building and building.”
Dewsbury-Hall also possesses that tenaciousness even within the same match. At the Gtech Community Stadium, he has missed an opportunity that Jordan Pickford felt he should have scored from – and provided the goalkeeper with an assist – before registering in the final seconds.
He said: “Jordan told me in the game. If I hadn’t scored, it would have haunted me missing that chance.
“I know you can’t score every chance, but I’m the sort of player who feels because I might not get five or six a game, when I get it, I need to take it.
“At that time in the game, I probably should have and I back myself to. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, so I’m proud that I stuck at it, knowing one might drop for me again and I took it.
“That’s what I mean about the resilience and mentality where things aren’t always going to go your way but as long as you stick with it, you’ll be able to get through.”
Dewsbury-Hall also had a big chance in front of the Kop in the last Merseyside Derby when Everton lost 2-1 to Liverpool on September 20. Asked if he wants to put that right, he said: “One hundred percent. I’m going into a lot of games, thinking I can score.
“That’s just the feeling that I have. I said it multiple times to people this season that I feel I’m going to score.
“It’s a good place to be as a player when you know that you back yourself when you get into positions. I’ve scored some decent goals this year so I know I can score an array of goals, it’s not just tap-ins.
“If I get a chance at the weekend, I’m confident I’m going to take it so hopefully it comes.”
