Goodison View: Ancelotti proves wisdom with verdict on one big Silva mistake at Everton
The emphatic 5-2 derby defeat to Merseyside rivals Liverpool in December proved to be former manager Marco Silva’s last game in charge of Everton.
The hapless Portuguese was dismissed the very next day and, after a brief but encouraging Duncan Ferguson stint, Champions League-winning boss Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as his successor.
Everything we’ve seen over the course of the Italian’s glittering managerial career tells us he’ll be a huge upgrade on his predecessor.
However, his latest comments, about the derby day defeat, are perhaps the clearest indication yet that he’s the man to narrow the huge gap to their cross-city rivals.
“I watched the game, yes,” he said, as per the Liverpool Echo. “They are fantastic in counter-attack and the fact that the defensive line of Everton was so high meant they put some balls in behind and created some problems.
“This is one of the biggest problems, if you keep the defensive line high they are fantastic in attack, with [Sadio] Mane, [Mohamed] Salah and also with the players that can pass the ball.”
It’s clear from these remarks that Ancelotti has identified the big mistake that Silva made in that game, an error which ultimately cost him his job.
The Toffees boss is right, it’s basically suicidal to play a high line against this Liverpool team. The pace of the Reds’ front three, combined with the passing ability in Jurgen Klopp’s team, means that the line can be destroyed in no time at all.
That was certainly the case in December. The positive thing, though, is that Ancelotti has identified that fact. We won’t know his tactics for the FA Cup clash with Liverpool until the game unfolds on Sunday, of course, but it’s highly unlikely he will be as reckless as Silva.
In other Everton news, a former England international is expecting big things for one Toffee under the new manager.