Midway through the first half on what would become a day of days at Goodison Park, a loose ball bounced towards the Bullens Road stand.

Sensing a chance to get Manchester City moving forward, Yaya Toure scuttled to retrieve it. But his pursuit was in vain. Ashley Williams charged into view and, before he knew it, Toure was sprawled on the floor.

It was a moment that helped change the game. No frills, no fuss, just a hefty shoulder barge that rattled Toure, shook City and put electricity in the atmosphere. Moments later, Williams generated another surge when he sent a clearance with his right foot screaming into the skies.

Ashley Williams admits he likes to keep things simple rather than playing out from the back

The Everton defender has made a solid start to life on Merseyside with defending his priority

These moments must be recalled. We live in an age when the emphasis is on defenders playing from the back, but what is style without substance? Here was resounding proof of why old-fashioned values must not be forgotten.

'There is going to come a point soon when it goes back to how it was,' says Williams, as we discuss his trade at Everton's Finch Farm training base. 'We've concentrated so much on attacking, I'm guessing a lot of people didn't concentrate on the art of defending.

'Personally, I feel I'm a defender. That's what I get paid to do. I get paid to stop the ball going in the net. I'm 32. Fans are never going to be surprised by what I do. You try to add to your game but you get paid to stop the ball going in the net. That is what you are there to do, by any means possible.

'The way the game has gone, people want to see ball-playing defenders and I can understand why. But I don't think you should be a ball-playing defender and not be able to defend. You might as well play in a different position. I love a tackle! A good tackle is part of the game.'

Williams has brought greater defensive steel to Everton's defence since arriving from Swansea

The centre back is enjoying his time on Merseyside since making his £9million move

WILLIAMS 16/17 STATS Appearances: 20 Starts: 19 Minutes played: 1719 Goals: 1 Tackles: 33 Clearances: 165 Blocks: 15 Yellow cards: 2 *Premier League only Advertisement

Williams could have stayed in what he calls a 'comfort zone' at Swansea last summer. He had a good life in Wales and his young family was settled.

But moving to Goodison Park was a challenge he wanted to embrace after the highs of Wales' adventure at Euro 2016 and there will be a reminder of that glorious chapter of his life on Saturday at Selhurst Park, with Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley part of Crystal Palace's squad.

'I can dance better than him,' he laughs when reminded about Ledley's dressing-room routines. 'It was nice people got to see what our team spirit was like. Just normal guys, doing what you'd do if you had won a quarter-final.'

Yet acclimatising to life with Everton was easier said than done. Life on Merseyside as a footballer is unforgiving and though they made a brisk start, a sequence of one win in 10 before Christmas leaves Williams nodding in agreement when the words 'culture shock' are put to him.

Williams played a vital role at the heart of the Wales defence during their run at Euro 2016

The 32-year-old acknowledges that he is now playing for a club with greater expectations

'I know what you mean,' he says. 'I've noticed it. The expectation is always there. You are expected to win every game and always play well. This is a big club. A big club. The fans are very passionate. It is like Everton is their life. It's so intense. But I think that is good.

'Swansea was a bit more relaxed. But that's why I wanted to move here. I wanted to challenge myself. We are going in the right direction. And if you are doing that, you are going to get expectation. I had to prove to myself I could make it work.'

Williams took an unorthodox route to the top after he was cast aside by West Brom, holding down a variety of jobs, from waiter to petrol station attendant, while turning out for non-League Hednesford. From there, he moved to Stockport.

Swansea gave him the platform to shine as they rose from League One to the Premier League. He looks on their current plight with sadness.

Williams enjoyed eight seasons with Swansea helping them rise through the Football League

The commanding defender scored his first Everton goal in the win over Arsenal in December

He hopes the great escape can begin on Saturday at Liverpool — the club he supported as a boy — and believes they have 'good players' to overcome a 'turbulent' season. He values everything he learned at Swansea and his views on one manager are revealing. Michael Laudrup, he says, was a profound influence in the same way as Ronald Koeman.

'It's the way they see the game,' Williams explains. 'The gaffer here reminds me a lot of Michael. They are different personalities. Michael was completely different to what I had known before. There were no rules. He made you take responsibility as a player.

'He made you figure it out for yourself rather than saying, "You do this, this and this". They are different men but some of the training sessions can be really similar. They both carry the same air. Koeman doesn't join in training. Laudrup? Every single day. Oh my God he was good!

Williams has been impressed by Ronald Koeman, who reminds him of Michael Laudrup

The former Stockport County defender says he is being kept on his toes every day by Koeman

'He could definitely still have played for Swansea then! He didn't have the legs but he is one of the best players I have ever trained with, if that makes sense. Unbelievable! He used to nutmeg everyone, every day. His vision, his touch. It was like nothing I've ever seen.'

So how has he found Koeman?

'Working with him is something I enjoy — how professional he is, how demanding he is day-to-day,' Williams explains. 'There is no day when you can go out and coast. He demands 100 per cent concentration and work rate. It's been reinvigorating.'

Williams rises to head home the winner against the Gunners at Goodison Park

Williams is determined to give supporters more to shout about in the remainder of the season

That word can be used to describe Everton's thumping victory over City. 'It wasn't bad, was it?' Williams says with a smile.

'We had a bad period but we can't dwell on it. We need to give the fans something to fire off.'

Something, perhaps, like one of those juddering tackles.