Liverpool – Everton: Klopp Gives Ancelotti A Major Reality Check (1-0)

Even when facing a heavily rotated Liverpool team, Everton just could not pick up a win at a ground they once called home. Carlo Ancelotti’s men had a handful of great chances in the first half but Jürgen Klopp’s intense pressing system pinned Everton back in their own half, before an incredible winner from Curtis Jones provided the visitors with more derby blues.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. 

Stanley Park maybe the only separation between Goodison Park and Anfield, but the quality between Everton and Liverpool is as far away as it has ever been. Mikel Arteta’s super strike back in October 2010 was the last winning goal in a Mersyside derby for Everton, twenty derbies in that time, with Liverpool getting the bragging rights in most of them.

Liverpool have hit incredible form, unbeaten in the league for over a year and unbeaten at Anfield since September 2018. Their dominance is perfectly labelled by Michael Cox, describing them as a combination of Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund, as well as Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the way the front three is deployed. Roberto Firmino as a false nine, with Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah cutting in from the wings, the attacking trio’s goalscoring record speaks for itself.

However, Liverpool’s record in the FA Cup is somewhat bleaker than it is in other competitions. Since their last trophy victory over West Ham in . . .