Everton will be looking to finally get one over on their arch-rivals Liverpool as they aim to end a run of form which has seen them garner a solitary win in their last six league games.
Carlo Ancelotti has spearheaded the charge to break past the Toffees’ previous woes in his fixture as he rallied the troops ahead of one of the biggest football dates on the calendar for Evertonians.
The Everton manager reflected on the humbling defeat against Pep Guardiola’s title-chasing Manchester City, making no qualms over the fact that his team were out-gunned by a free-flowing City side, telling evertontv:
It was a difficult game [against City]. From my point of view, the performance was good defensively for one hour. Offensively, we could do better when we had the ball.
For one hour, I think we had good control of the game. Defending, of course, because we needed to defend.
Ancelotti will be fervent in his demands to improve against Liverpool, who themselves have fallen below expectations in what has been an injury-addled season for the red half of Merseyside. The Italian chimed:
We have to prepare well for the next game. It is a great opportunity.
We don’t need to have regrets about tonight [against City], the regrets were against Fulham. We have to try to get points on Saturday.
The derby is a special game. We know how it is important for our supporters. And also, away from home, we are on a really good run, so we hope to continue this.
Read Everton Verdict
A trip to Anfield is a major litmus test for the bouncebackability of Everton, who have not won at the ground since 1999 and have now gone more than a decade without beating Liverpool anywhere.
The tensions between the two clubs must surely be a major mental factor in determining who plays for the shirt and who doesn’t.
With the Reds losing their last three at home and the Toffees unbeaten in seven away games, Ancelotti could be right in calling Saturday’s clash a “great opportunity” for his side, and one which they must go all-out to seize.
