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Quarter-final biggest game of Ancelotti’s Everton reign

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United is challenged by Alex Iwobi of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on November 07, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United is challenged by Alex Iwobi of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on November 07, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Tonight Everton take on Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in what is surely the biggest match so far of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign as manager.

Ancelotti arrived a year ago with an almost unmatched record of glittering success and a phenomenal haul of trophies won. Everton haven’t won a trophy since the 1995 FA Cup, which represents over a quarter of a century without silverware.

With Ancelotti in charge, as well as restoring the Toffees to competitiveness in the Premier League, Blues fans are desperate for another cup after such a long drought.

Since that 1995 triumph the Blues have only reached one cup final when they were beaten finalists at Wembley in the 2009 FA Cup. That’s a miserable record for such a great club.

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The old League Cup is the one domestic competition that Everton have never won and it would be a fitting way for Ancelotti to begin his reign with a victory in this competition.

Too often the club have under-performed in this tournament and the Toffees have only ever twice reached the final losing to Aston Villa in 1977 and Liverpool in 1984. both times after replays. Could it be third time lucky this year?

The now-named Carabao Cup has been a pleasant diversion from the grind of constant Premier League action this season and the Blues have had an easy passage so far in the competition.

Their only challenging fixture – on paper at least- was the home tie with West Ham in the last round. But that was negotiated comfortably enough.

Now we’re at the business end of the competition and Everton host Manchester United at Goodison Park tonight in what must be Ancelotti’s biggest game as Toffees boss. Victory tonight would put the club into the semi-finals for the first time since 2016.

While finishing at least in the European places and hopefully even the top four is the main goal for the season, winning a trophy would be a real boost to confidence and give Evertonians something to shout about at last. Especially with Liverpool enjoying constant success again.

Ancelotti has lost his star forward James Rodriguez, still injured. But United might also be without their key creative talent, Bruno Fernandes, which would be just as big a blow for them.

And a win tonight and a kind draw might give Everton a semi-final against a Championship side as Brentford beat Newcastle last night. If Stoke were to beat Spurs too this evening (unlikely but who knows) then this would be a very open competition.

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Getting through tonight in a big cup tie would be a further boost to confidence after a three game winning run in the Premier League and provide more evidence that there is genuine progress being made at last by this Everton team.

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