Everton sealed their Carabao Cup progress with a 3-1 win over Rotherham United.
Summer arrivals Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne were handed first starts as Marco Silva rang the changes for the visit of the Championship outfit.
Sigurdsson was one of just surviving three players from the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth and was on hand to open the scoring in the 37th minute.
The Iceland international met a Sandro Ramirez cross to slide the ball past Millers goalkeeper Lewis Price to set his side on their way to victory.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubled the lead in the second half as he headed home as the Blues’ place in the third round draw appeared virtually assured.
A nervy finish loomed as Will Vaulks reduced the visitors’ deficit, only for Calvert-Lewin to instantly strike his second with a stunning curled finish.
Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:
Silva’s boldness pays off handsomely
Sweeping changes were expected for Everton’s Carabao Cup bow but it was by no means a slight on a competition which has continually eluded them.
Two semi-final appearances is the best the Blues have achieved in the previous decade beyond their fruitless showpieces of 1977 and 1984.
All the more reason to go for broke to end a silverware drought which could conceivably have reached a quarter of a century by the end of this season.
Fielding only three of the players that came through last weekend’s draw with Bournemouth suggested Silva had one eye on Saturday’s visit of Huddersfield.
Not that it was ever a game being taken lightly by the Everton manager.
An inevitably nervy start eventually developed into a cohesive overall team performance, exemplified by their increased confidence in the second half.
Opting for boldness over familiarity may have its drawbacks in the next round but Silva will point to a comfortable score line and display as true vindication.
Goodison gripped by cup fever again
Rarely do attendances dominate the headlines.
But the 31,972 that packed into Goodison Park bore witness to a history of sorts as Everton broke their own half-century record in this competition.
Not since a 4-0 trouncing of Tranmere Rovers in September 1968 has the Grand Old Lady drawn that type of crowd for a League Cup second round tie.
Two months into his reign, Silva has already begun to galvanise Evertonians with a style of football that is as encouraging as much as it is easy on the eye.
It might have been a very different story if Sam Allardyce was still in charge.
New boys ready to fill the void
Fears over Everton’s dearth of defensive options heading into this weekend’s clash with the Terriers have been allayed by Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne’s Goodison bows.
The Chelsea loanee offered a commanding presence against Rotherham; regularly thwarting floated balls designed to breach the hosts’ backline.
His shackling of Jamie Proctor saw the Millers striker’s only way of attempting to stop him was with an on-the-ball collision midway through the second half.
Even that only deterred the France international for a matter of minutes.
His compatriot Digne fared similarly well with a pinpoint assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first of the night complimenting a solid defensive display.
With both Phil Jagielka and Michael Keane sidelined for several weeks, the pair’s rise to prominence is perfectly timed.
Davies: a natural-born leader
Being Everton’s youngest-ever captain would be enough to faze most players.
Tom Davies, however, has already proved that he is not like most players.
Tasked with the distinction of leading his boyhood club at just 20, the midfielder led by example with both his performance and professionalism.
What little nerves existed at the outset, like the entire team, quickly dissipated as Davies exuded a true Evertonian authority and character.