Jurgen Klopp gets selection right and other things learned from Liverpool's FA Cup win over Everton

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  • Spot on: Klopp's selection.

    Liverpool triumphed in the 230th Merseyside Derby meeting on Friday night with a deserved 2-1 victory over city rivals Everton at Anfield.

    Here, we look at three things we learned from the FA Cup third round tie:

    SELECTION PROOF JURGEN KLOPP TAKING FA CUP SERIOUSLY

    The German selected the strongest possible XI he had available to him – seemingly learning quickly that a Merseyside Derby is not a game to take lightly or indeed experiment in following the 1-1 Premier League draw last month.

    While Sadio Mane, after his trip the night before to Ghana, didn’t appear as fresh as he could have been – Klopp couldn’t be faulted for the personnel he opted for and the FA Cup is no doubt an important priority for the Reds this season.

    After all, Klopp needs to win his first trophy.

    Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp arrives for the English FA Cup third round football match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on January 5, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

    A good night in the end for Klopp.

    EVERTON BADLY NEED A FOCAL POINT IN ATTACK

    The arrival of Turkish striker Cenk Tosun for a fee of £27m – announced during half-time of the Derby – is welcome news even if the Besiktas star is very much an unproven quantity in the Premier League.

    Nevertheless, Evertonians have to put faith in the fact boss Sam Allardyce and Director of Football Steve Walsh have made the right call on the 26-year-old.

    Despite his goal, Gylfi Sigurdsson is not a striker and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while being a big star for the future, is still learning on the job.

    A focal point in attack can’t come soon enough for Everton.

    VIRGIL VAN DIJK SIGNING MORE THAN VALUE FOR MONEY

    The former Southampton ace couldn’t have started his Anfield career in better fashion, scoring the winner at the Kop end against the Blues.

    Van Dijk’s capture is a fine statement of intent from Liverpool, showing that they are ready to spend big and continue to build.

    At £75m, the Dutchman will stabilize the club’s leaky backline and prove to the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah that there are plenty of reasons to stay at Liverpool for a while yet.

    What a start for Van Dijk.

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