Van Dijk proved the matchwinner at Everton on Sunday.
Carragher said on Sky Sports: "The result is absolutely huge for Liverpool when you consider the Chelsea result yesterday. When that board went up for 11 minutes, I'd have shook with anyone and taken a point from a Liverpool point of view.
"With the situation with the goalkeeper, Everton were a little bit more threatening. Liverpool were a small team towards the end of that game and I was fearful of set-pieces.
"When you think of how Liverpool have won this game - two of the absolute legends of the club have done it. They won't be here much longer. Salah and probably Van Dijk in 12 months' time.
"Two of the absolute greats. Salah has done it again against Liverpool's biggest rivals, as he always does. Against Everton or Man Utd, you can always rely upon him."