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Premier League | Gameweek 5
Oct 17, 2020 at 12.30pm UK
Goodison Park
LL

Everton
2 - 2
Liverpool

Keane (19'), Calvert-Lewin (81')
Rodriguez (45'), Gomes (69'), Allan (84')
Richarlison (90')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Mane (3'), Salah (72')
Mane (67'), Fabinho (84')

Carlo Ancelotti looking forward to Everton test against "the best" Liverpool

:Headline: Carlo Ancelotti looking forward to Everton test against 'the best' Liverpool: ID:418621: from db_amp
The Premier League leaders are chasing a first win over Liverpool in 10 years.

Carlo Ancelotti believes his table-topping Everton side will find out just how good they really after facing off with city rivals and reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.

The Toffees have enjoyed a wonderful start to the season, with a 100 per cent record across all competitions including four wins from four in the league.

Saturday afternoon's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park will provide their stiffest challenge yet but Ancelotti is relishing the chance for his in-form side to gauge their progress against Jurgen Klopp's men.

Everton have been in irresistible form this season (Alex Livesey/PA)

The Reds were on the wrong end of a stunning 7-2 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa just before the international break, but still represent the gold standard in the Italian's eyes.

"I think it will be good for us to have this kind of test. They are the best, they were the best last season and one of the best teams in the world, so it's a fantastic challenge," said Ancelotti.

"The message for us is they are going to have an exciting game, it's a derby. Be confident and be happy to play this game.

"I think the feeling in the dressing room is good. We've started really well, we know it will be a fantastic challenge. We are ready for the challenge, knowing it will be the most difficult challenge for us in this moment."

Commenting on Klopp's recent suggestion that Everton could be genuine title threats rather than short-term placeholders at the summit, Ancelotti added: "I want to say thanks to him, to be a challenger for Liverpool could be really good for us.

"Of course Liverpool is doing so well. We are, I think, not so far but still far from them. We can have a good test tomorrow against them to see how far we are."

On Saturday it will be exactly a decade since Everton last defeated Liverpool, courtesy of goals from Tim Cahill and current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Captain Seamus Coleman was part of the club's last Merseyside derby win (Peter Byrne/PA)

Club captain Seamus Coleman also featured that day and would love to stop the clock on an unwanted winless run. Ancelotti insists no additional motivation has been necessary from the Irishman this week, though.

"He doesn't need to speak to his other team-mates to show how important this derby is," he said.

"Everyone knows how important it is."

As for the shadow of the shock 7-2 scoreline from earlier this month, and the possibility of a big response, the Toffees boss remained unmoved.

"We don't try to think about what happened in the last game. We think as usual Liverpool is a fantastic team, with a lot of intensity and a lot of quality.

"This will be the opponent we are going to play."

Ancelotti expects Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne to be fit despite minor fitness scares on international duty for Colombia and France respectively.

That means new arrival Ben Godfrey will likely have to wait for his chance to break a settled back line, with Allan and Andre Gomes pushing for recalls in a competitive midfield.

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3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
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