Liverpool vs Everton: Carlo Ancelotti hands Jurgen Klopp unique challenge

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp must face a unique challenge on Sunday.

That’s because Everton gaffer Carlo Ancelotti has the German’s number.

He’s the only boss to consistently mastermind victories against Liverpool as his Napoli side did the Champions League double.

Klopp failed to register a win against the Italians in 2019 as Liverpool lost 2-0 on the 17th September and drew 1-1 at Anfield in November.

Everton must have hoped that this unique skill that Ancelotti possesses would be translated to their performances, but then a young Liverpool side made fools of the Toffies experienced FA Cup side.

That was before Ancelotti could really sink his teeth into this toothless Everton side. The Italian oversaw a rapid improvement on the tepid stuff former manager Marco Silva served up, and now Jurgen Klopp will be faced with his unique challenge.

No other Premier League manager has enjoyed such prolonged success against Liverpool or the boss. Diego Simeone managed to fight tooth and nail for his victories, even if the second was largely down to individual error.

With Everton playing two up front, they will represent something different. They have returned to basics with Ancelotti, who likes to play a 4-4-2 formation with this limited squad.

Players like Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin will inject some fight into the game, while their Italian boss’s good man management skills will rear their head at some point.

Klopp is still odds on to get the better of his opposite number, but Ancelotti’s past form indicates that this is a man who can counter the systems Liverpool are likely to use.

Liverpool need to win to get this little shadow off the back of the German’s neck. They have the firepower to do so, and are motivated by the Premier League title being within grasp.

But we will still see a more interesting duel between the two managers than normal.