It was a small moment, barely six minutes into the game, but it was a perfect demonstration of the command and authority that would follow.

With Crystal Palace trying to get an early foothold in the contest, a ball was hoisted towards Christian Benteke. The Belgian's time at Liverpool was sadly underwhelming but he's had a habit of scoring goals against them through his career. He was intent on doing so again.

But before the striker could begin to think about jumping, Virgil van Dijk manoeuvred himself into position. He placed his arm on Benteke's back, rolled his shoulders and chest forward and applied some leverage. Benteke was pinned and Palace's moment was gone.

Virgil van Dijk is the exact sort of defender Manchester United would have loved to sign

That is the thing about Van Dijk. Everyone talks about him being a great defender because of his hulking size and physical strength, but it's the little things that he does so well: his timing, his reading of the game – how often do you see him in a position where he needs to make a sliding tackle?

There is a reason Jurgen Klopp was happy for Liverpool to obliterate their transfer record to sign Van Dijk and it was for nights such as these, when the atmosphere is intimidating and the stakes are high. This when you want leaders to emerge and provide guidance and this is what Van Dijk does.

To see him imploring Liverpool's midfielders them to concentrate or effortlessly sweep balls out to right for Trent Alexander-Arnold to scurry after, you saw a player in total control. The header he won to set the attack in motion for the clinching second goal added gloss to Van Dijk's performance.

Jurgen Klopp signed Van Dijk for these type of tricky encounters at Selhurst Park

What Liverpool would have done to have someone like Van Dijk the last time they played at Selhurst Park on a Monday night. That, of course, was in May 2014 when their implosion in the final frenzied 20 minutes led to the disintegration of their ambitions to become champions.

Back then, Van Dijk had just finished his first season with Celtic, deemed not good enough by English scouts, who had previously watched him in Groningen.

Seeing Mohamed Sakho tap dancing his way through this match, the comparison to back then was even more pertinent. He played that fateful evening, when a 3-0 lead turned into a 3-3 draw – that showed why Liverpool would never seriously challenge for honours if they remained so porous.

There were also eye-catching performances from Joe Gomez and Alisson Becker

Klopp bounced the Frenchman out of Anfield two years ago for a number of reasons – a lack of discipline on the club's tour to America in 2016 was the breaking point – but the foremost factor was he simply wasn't up to the task of playing for Liverpool.

Sakho wins popularity because he makes a high percentage of last-ditch tackles but they are tackles he needs to make because he is normally out of position. He is prone to moments of impetuosity, too, as he showed when having two attempts to chop Mohamed Salah down for a penalty.

There were other big performances – Joe Gomez and goalkeeper Alisson Becker in particular – but it was Van Dijk who stood out like a beacon and that led to another question: what would Manchester United do to have a player like him? He is, after all, everything Jose Mourinho wants in his back four.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker kept a clean sheet with the help of the crossbar

It is well known Manchester City were in for Van Dijk, while Chelsea and Arsenal both asked the question of Southampton.

Now it transpires United did actually throw their hat into the ring and made an enquiry for Van Dijk.

They wanted to know the terms of his deal last December but, as is typical of that club now, the question was asked on the day Van Dijk was undergoing his medical at Anfield. By then it was too far late. United's loss is most definitely Liverpool's gain.