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Everton turn their attention to FA Cup

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Zak Vyner of Rotherham United during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Everton and Rotherham United at Goodison Park on August 29, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Zak Vyner of Rotherham United during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Everton and Rotherham United at Goodison Park on August 29, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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Tomorrow Everton take on Rotherham United in the third round of the FA Cup, the only trophy that the Toffees can now win this season.

After the disappointment of another failure in the Carabao Cup and defeat in the quarter-final to Manchester United, Everton only have this trophy to aim for.

Carlo Ancelotti is keen for the Blues to take the world’s oldest football competition seriously and try and win it obviously. He also has fond memories of the Cup having added it to the Premier League title in 2009-10 when he managed Chelsea. Another double this season would do very nicely Carlo!

Seriously though, it’s important Everton do go a long way in the FA Cup this year and make a real effort to try and win it.

There might be a better chance to win it this year especially as many of the’ big’ clubs so-called will probably be fielding weakened teams because of fixture pressures and their European competition commitments.

The Cup is a trophy that the Toffees have a long history of competing for. The club first reached the final way back in 1893 and won it for the first time in 1906.

At one point the Blues had reached more semi-finals than any other club and after winning it back in 1995 they had claimed it on five occasions.

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However, Everton also have a history of losing a lot of finals as well and have been runners-up eight times in total. The last defeat was in 2009 against Ancelotti’s former club, Chelsea.

That win in 1995 was not only the last time the club got their hands on the famous trophy but of course it’s the last time the Toffees won any silverware.

That’s a dreadful record going back over a quarter of a century and one Ancelotti has been brought in to change as soon as possible.

The third round of the Cup is traditionally the time when top flight clubs join the competition and has sometimes thrown up some major shocks, including defeats for the Blues in this round.

But a home tie against a struggling Championship club should, on paper at least, be a winnable opening fixture in the competition.

Going into the match Ancelotti has a few selection issues. With the return of both Seamus Coleman and James Rodriguez last weekend, I imagine he will give both players a game to find their match fitness, especially Rodriguez who needs minutes on the pitch.

It might also be a match in which he can give one or two players a rest. Perhaps Abdoulye Doucoure for example who has played almost every one of Everton’s games this season.

He might also take the opportunity to give Anthony Gordon a chance to play in place of Richarlison, who’s own form has been poor of late and who may benefit from a day off before Premier League action resumes against Wolves.

After a New Year’s Day defeat to West Ham the Blues need to re-start their 2021 and get a win tomorrow to get their FA Cup challenge off to a good start.