In a Premier League 2 precursor to the senior sides’ meeting later in the day, Rafael Camacho had put the young Reds in front within two minutes before creating the second goal midway through the first half.
The Blues mounted significant pressure after the interval and halved their arrears through Josh Grant but Virtue’s second of the afternoon sealed the points for Liverpool.
Neil Critchley asked for a response from his players after last week’s 4-0 defeat by Arsenal and he could not have wished for better in the first half.
Liam Millar might have scored within 30 seconds having moved into space past Ethan Ampadu and swept a strike back towards the right corner that was palmed away by Jamie Cumming.