The Reds could have it all signed, sealed and delivered at the Merseyside derby against Everton. Or would Everton, the supposed underdog in this much-touted match have something different to say about this? After all, some underdogs seem to have this maniacal knack and relish for biting back when one least expects it. Especially when they happen to have someone in their corner who has had the rare joy and opportunity to sink his teeth into the Reds’ behind before under not too different circumstances.
21 years and still counting. That’s how long since the blue side of Mersey have had their last triumph at Anfield. But this time there’s a naysayer in the form of a larger-than-life Don Carlo, the only figure who’s name, proven track record and collection of silverware, could possibly strike a note of fear in the Liverpool rafters.
With the square off coming up in the third round of the FA Cup at Anfield, there’s the distinct promise of fireworks in the coming proceedings. It being a club competition match off on the cards, there seems to be some hype for hope as the unflappable Don Carlo is the only bogeyman to have the come-uppance on Klopp this season when he masterminded Napoli’s upstaging of the Reds in the Champions League group stage.
It is 21 years and counting since Everton’s last success at Anfield. Ancelotti last won the FA Cup with Chelsea a decade ago and struck another heavy blow at Liverpool with Napoli only last season. Both times he and his teams were slated as the underdogs, a challenge he loves to embrace with an almost masochistic zeal.
Needless to say, the man – and the maestro – is not lulled into self-deception that Liverpool will be pushovers offering hardly any resistance. He has clearly stated that a normal performance against a team like Liverpool would hardly suffice. No. “Everything has to be perfect. You cannot defend for 90 minutes and we do not want to defend for 90 minutes. We want to have the possibility to play our football.” That about sums up the man’s gung-ho, never-say-die attitude and positivity. That aside, he’s adamant that Klopp is certainly praiseworthy with talent that’s nothing short of world class.
Klopp returns the compliment as he too has the utmost respect for this adversary he’s long acknowledged as a friend, “Carlo Ancelotti is one of the smartest people I have met. He would not have taken the job if he did not think the squad is good. They invested a lot and brought in good players. Carlo is somebody who can lift a group when he enters the room.”
All said, the Don is already inspiring the club and its supporters to fan the flames for a massive dream of an all-ever first Anfield victory in 20 years.