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Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton may become Liverpool’s “next suitable opponent” in the Premier League, says Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Toffees top the table with four wins out of four under the Italian, who was designated last December.
They host champion Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
“What I think of Carlo Ancelloti was never a secret. I couldn’t respect him more. He is a wonderful human being,” Klopp told BBC Football Focus.
“When I heard that he was signing for Everton I thought ‘Uhhh, the next suitable challenger in line.’
“They did the perfect business in the summer. They found exactly the players they needed to improve a football team that was already pretty good.”
“Together, getting more used to what Carlo wants them to do makes them quite a strong team.”
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Ancelotti succeeded Marco Silva as Everton coach, having won league titles in Italy, Germany, France and England, with Chelsea in 2009-10. He also has three Champions League to his name as a coach.
Everton, twelfth in the Premier League last season, haven’t finished higher than seventh since 2013-14.
After bolstering their midfield this summer with the signings of James Rodríguez, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, they have a 100% record in seven games in all competitions this season.
They have scored 24 goals, and 23-year-old England forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored nine of them, including two hat-tricks.
Klopp said: “Calvert-Lewin, I really expected him to make great strides in the next few years and he did,” Klopp said.
“He has everything you need in a top striker: size, mobility, speed, desire, technically very, very well, in the air, finishing with his head, both feet.”
“And now everything works together, both wings have first-class players with James and Richarlison. Midfield, Allan plus whoever plays there, if it’s Sigurddson or whoever.
“It’s a very, very good team and the back row works better because in a good team it is easier to defend. That’s what you see when you watch Everton, so it will be a very interesting game.”
See Jurgen Klopp’s full interview at Football Focus on BBC One on Saturday at 12:00 BST.
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Source: bbc.com
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