Virgil van Dijk enjoyed a dream debut as Liverpool knocked Everton out of the FA Cup.

In a lively first half, it was the home side who led after James Milner converted from the penalty spot following a foul on Adam Lallana.

The Blues would be level in the second half, though, as Gylfi Sigurdsson swept home to end a devastating counter-attack for the visitors.

But Van Dijk’s bow for the Reds ended in emphatic fashion as he headed home a late corner to book his side’s place in the competition’s fourth round.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Van Dijk already repaying his fee

 

Virgil van Dijk has a long way to justifying the world-record transfer fee Liverpool paid for his services.

He will also have to prove himself against more established strikers than Dominic Calvert-Lewin before he can be considered a success.

But a goal on your debut to seal a win over rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby is a good starting point.

If this performance was anything to go by, Liverpool may have finally found the answer to their defensive issues.

The Dutchman was solid from start to finish, almost bullying Everton’s young forward Calvert-Lewin into obscurity.

He was similarly dominant in commanding his teammates, marshalling both Joel Matip and Andy Robertson either side of him throughout the game.

Jurgen Klopp, and Anfield, will certainly be pleased with his latest acquisition.

Sigurdsson’s seminal moment

 

It’s been a gruelling first half of the season for Gylfi Sigurdsson at Everton.

With a £45 million price tag hanging around his neck, the Icelandic midfielder has often struggled to prove his worth.

There have been times, though, that he has shown just why Steve Walsh spent so much of his summer convincing Swansea City to part with their man.

He did that again at Anfield, finishing off a sweeping Everton counter-attack with the utmost composure to draw his side level.

That was Sigurdsson’s fourth goal against Liverpool, all of which have come at Anfield, he has a tendency to produce big moments in big games.

This was by no means a vintage performance but if he continues to turn up and score goals like this one, few will remember his struggles when it comes to the end of his first season in royal blue.

Reds midfield lack without Coutinho

 

There’s no denying that Liverpool will have a huge hole to fill should Philippe Coutinho depart for Barcelona.

Missing from this game with a thigh injury, his absence was a telling one.

A midfield three of Emre Can, Adam Lallana and James Milner simply couldn’t provide the telling pass that the Brazilian often pulls out of his locker.

Indeed, there is nobody in this current group of players who are capable of doing that task and it is hard to see Naby Keita being that man either.

Even if Coutinho does not end up getting his move, Liverpool need more of his like if they are to truly test the best teams in both England and Europe.

Blues show their bite

 

One of the major criticisms of Everton in recent years has been a so-called ‘soft centre’.

Under both Roberto Martinez and Ronald Koeman the Blues abandoned their tough tackling approach in favour of producing attractive football.

That has haunted them on more than one occasion in meetings with Liverpool, with the old blood and thunder of the Merseyside derby a thing of the past.

It seems Sam Allardyce is determined to bring back the old ways. From the start, Everton were determined to leave their mark n their fierce rivals.

From Rooney throwing himself around with reckless abandon to Mason Holgate pushing Roberto Firmino over the advertising hoardings, Everton were fired up, to say the least.

If the reaction from the 8,000 housed in the Anfield Road end is anything to go by, Evertonians will take that by the bucketload.