Ancelotti: If this is not enough for Everton history, I will keep working

Everton 2, Liverpool 0, that’s the final score from Anfield.

The exact gravity of that scoreline might not be appreciated by the casual onlooker, but when you consider that it’s been 21 years since the Blues last won away at the Reds, that sentence might start to take on a lot more weight.

Often in Merseyside derbies in this millenium, the Blues have somehow contrived to find a way to lose or draw these games. But on a day when Carlo Ancelotti told his players that they would win this game even before referee Chris Kavanagh got proceedings underway, the Toffees started fast, held their composure in the face of pressure from their hosts to the point that even former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher was calling out his side for diving, added the insurance goal late on and leave Anfield with a win.

There was unbridled joy at the final whistle as assistant coach Duncan Ferguson ran about hugging everyone in sight and even Ancelotti mustered a huge smile.

“I think the happiest man in the team was Duncan.

“What it means, this victory, is that we can compete. Using our quality, which is not the same technical quality of Liverpool, but we have a strong spirit in this period and our belief is improving.

“Of course, we have to improve and work on this but I think this performance can help us be better in the future. We have to be better at home. This run away is fantastic but at home it has not been good enough.”

Evertonians have known for a while that they have a special manager in Ancelotti, who has pretty much done it all and won it too before joining the Blues, but will be especially pleased with the humility the Italian has shown. This is after all just three points in the Premier League, the Blues don’t get bonus points for ending a decades-long run of futility.

“I realise that I was the manager that beat Liverpool after 21 years.

“I don’t know if this is enough to be in the history of the club but if it is not enough then I will keep working.”

The Blues matched the Reds for shots on goal, and were deserved winners on expected goals too. Ancelotti was satisfied with the effort he saw from his side.

“Really happy. The performance was good, it was difficult, but the spirit of the team was good.

“We competed really well and were clinical in front. We didn’t have a lot of opportunities but the opportunities we did have we were able to convert them really well.

“We worked hard defensively. The performance of Jordan Pickford and the back at the back was really, really good. We were then clinical in front with James and Richarlison.”

Lots more to come from this game, but for now, enjoy this moment Evertonians.