Simon Mullock, Sunday Mirror
"By contrast, Everton are in a much better place these days.
Only Liverpool have taken more points than the Blues over the course of the last 11 games.
And the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti just before Christmas has finally given the Goodison fans something to get excited about."
Andy Hunter, Guardian
"When Marco Silva was dismissed on 5 December Everton were in the relegation zone with 14 points from 15 games and nursing another Merseyside derby hangover. Two months on, revitalised by Duncan Ferguson and refocused by Carlo Ancelotti, they head into the mid‑season break seventh in the Premier League and talking of European qualification. And to think the Italian insists he is no magician."
Phil Kirkbride's verdict as Richarlison shows shades of Lukaku
Chris Bascombe, Telegraph
"Winning by different means is a healthy habit which Ancelotti’s predecessors failed to master. This victory means the Italian has collected more points in his first eight games than his predecessor managed in the previous 14.
Since Marco Silva’s dismissal, Everton sit second in the Premier League form table, which is testimony to the work of Duncan Ferguson and Ancelotti."
Joe Bernstein, Mail on Sunday
"Maybe it's time to acknowledge Carlo Ancelotti has more in his locker beyond picking world-class players.
When the legendary Italian landed at Goodison Park, cynics questioned how he'd cope with a relatively modest squad having been used to working with the likes of Kaka, Ronaldo and Didier Drogba throughout his career.
Yet here we are with Everton in a European spot just two months after Marco Silva was sacked with the club languishing in the bottom three."
Ancelotti's gamble pays off, mixed day for Pickford and the Schneiderlin question
Jonathan Northcroft, Sunday Times
"How good — or bad — is the Premier League? Behind Liverpool’s runaway train lags a bunched trail of wagons, and the competition’s standards are provoking debate. What to make of Everton, beaten in the FA Cup by Liverpool’s kids a month ago, now being one point off fifth-placed Tottenham?"
