Heading into the game against Cardiff City, Everton were in desperate need of a win to save Marco Siva’s reign.

The Toffees had only won two out of eight games in 2019 preceding it, losing the other six. In what could have been seen as a do-or-die scenario for Silva, Gylfi Sigurdsson emerged as the hero to save Everton from further doom.

Playing against a Cardiff City side looking to bounce back at home, Everton played like the old days under Silva. They dominated a poor Cardiff side, playing incisive, attacking football to showcase their devastating potential. Sigurdsson proved as the key to unlocking their potential.

The Iceland international’s - now rated at £27m by Transfermarkt - movement in the final third was excellent, as he often wandered astray to find himself in promising positions.  He scored his first thanks to intelligent movement, before adding another with a thumping finish from out of nowhere. Recording an 80% passing accuracy (stats via Fotmob) and even creating a good chance for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, he pumped Everton forward at every opportunity.

With the fantastic brace, Sigurdsson took his tally to eleven for the season, having also assisted three times for Everton. Even in this difficult season, he’s maintained swagger in his gameplay and kept on creating chances, only to see poor finishing foil his good work.

However, he took things into his own hands into helping Everton get back to winning ways on Tuesday night. With the Merseyside derby next, Sigurdsson and company will aim to keep up their inspired form to give Silva new lease in life at Everton.

The club might have overpaid for his services initially but the man who once rejected a move to Liverpool now looks to be Everton's first hero in a long time.