Carlo Ancelotti says that Everton will have to play a “perfect game” to beat Liverpool this weekend, per Sky Sports.
The two Merseyside clubs are set to go head-to-head this weekend in a massive Merseyside derby.
There was the possibility that Jurgen Klopp’s side could have won the Premier League title with a victory, though they needed Manchester City to lose to Arsenal to have any hope of being crowned this weekend.
Of course, Pep Guardiola’s side won 3-0, delaying the inevitable, and Ancelotti admits it will be remarkably tough for the Toffees to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side this weekend.
Indeed, Liverpool have lost just once in the Premier League season, to Watford at Vicarage Road.
Ancelotti said: "I know how the Everton supporters look for this game, what they want to see from my team. We know really well what we have to do.
"We have to play a perfect game, showing character, sacrifice and personality.
"For sure to beat Liverpool you have to do more than play at 100 per cent.
"We have to consider this game as a great opportunity. It will be difficult of course because Liverpool are one of the best teams in the world, but we have to try."
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
Everton have a genuinely appalling record against Liverpool.
The Toffees have not beaten the Reds in any of their last 21 meetings, whether it be in the Premier League or the FA Cup.
Indeed, their last win came in 2010, a 2-0 win at Goodison Park in which both Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta scored.
Their most recent league meeting ended in a 5-2 defeat in December and Ancelotti is right; Everton will have to be absolutely flawless to have any hope of beating the champions-in-waiting.
The Toffees simply don’t have players of the calibre of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Virgil van Dijk but there is always a chance.
That the Italian is accepting the reality and the magnitude of the task can only be a good thing.
It remains to be seen if the message will get through; it needs to if Everton are to break this horrific hoodoo.