Manager Carlo Ancelotti says he is hoping Everton
will not have to watch local rivals Liverpool clinch
the Premier League title at their Goodison Park
home. With Liverpool 22 points clear at the top of the
table, thoughts have turned to when they could clinch a first title in 30 years.
If Liverpool keep winning, Manchester City drop
three points, and Leicester drop any points
between now and the Merseyside derby, Jurgen
Klopp's side can potentially claim the title at
Goodison Park on March 16, live on Sky Sports. Asked what he thought of that prospect, Ancelotti
said on Friday, ahead of Saturday's match against
Crystal Palace: "The thought is that Liverpool is
going to win the Premier League - I hope not at
Goodison Park! "There are a lot of stadiums, why in Goodison?" But former Liverpool striker Ian Rush was
unsurprisingly more interested in the possibility of
a title celebration at the home of one of their
greatest rivals. Andre Gomes is closing in on a return to action Andre Gomes is closing in on a return to action "I think it would go down well for the Liverpool
supporters - I'm not sure about the Everton
supporters," Rush told Sky Sports. "It would be nice to win it on Merseyside but I
would like it to be at Anfield.
"But, if it's going to be at Goodison Park, I don't
think any Liverpool supporters would be angry
with that. "One thing for sure is that Everton will be trying to
make certain they don't win it there, so that will be
a really entertaining game."
Everton midfielder Andre Gomes may yet play in the
derby in March. Gomes could make a comeback from a fracture
dislocation of his ankle when Everton play Arsenal
later this month. The Portugal international sustained an horrific
injury against Tottenham on November 3 but has
made such rapid progress there are plans in place
for him to feature in a friendly to test his fitness
ahead of the team's return to action after the mid-
season break. "We are going to organise a friendly game for us
when we come back from the holidays and
everything is OK with him," said Ancelotti.