Carlo Ancelotti’s impressive record against Liverpool revealed as Real Madrid boss looks to build on Everton, Real Madrid and Napoli success ahead of Champions League final

Liverpool are preparing to face a familiar foe when they take on Real Madrid on Saturday night.

The Reds travel to Paris for the Champions League final hoping to secure their seventh success in the competition.

Unfortunately in Carlo Ancelotti, they will face a man who will know how to get the better of them.

Ancelotti has faced Liverpool as manager no less than 16 times over the years, winning eight times in the process, while losing just five times in this run.

So what lessons should Jurgen Klopp’s side learn against the Italian this time around? talkSPORT.com takes a look at past clashes and how each of Ancelotti’s former clubs fared.

Game Days: Early Disappointment

Many assume that Ancelotti’s rivalry with Liverpool began when he moved into management, but his playing days were where it all began.

The former midfielder was part of the Roma side that reached the 1984 European Cup final where they faced Liverpool.

Unfortunately, Ancelotti missed the game through injury and had to watch the Reds win away at Roma, beating the Stadio Olimpico clash in a nervy penalty shoot-out.

Ancelotti’s record: played one, lost one

AC Milan: the miracle of Istanbul

Ancelotti’s first two games against the Reds couldn’t have been in a more publicized setting.

His first encounter came as AC Milan boss when the two sides played out a stunning 3-3 draw in the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul as Rafael Benitez’s Reds incredibly hit back 3-0. The final again went to a penalty shootout, which would have brought back painful memories of 1984.

However, Milan managed to get their revenge two years later in the 2007 final when Filippo Inzaghi inspired the Italian giants to a 2-1 victory in Athens.

Ancelotti’s record: played two, won one, lost one

Chelsea: Battles in the Premier League

After seven and a half years at the San Siro, Ancelotti was appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 2009, which was his first Premier League gig.

In his first season with the Blues, the Italian scored a league double against Liverpool with two 2-0 wins over Rafa Benitez’s side.

The following year, Roy Hodgson took over from Benitez and claimed a 2-0 win at home thanks to a brace from Fernando Torres, before Kenny Dalgish guided the Reds to another win through Raul Meireles. The game was also Torres’ first in a Chelsea shirt since joining them from Liverpool for £50m.

Ancelotti record: Played four, won two, lost two

Real Madrid: Benzema’s delight in the Champions League

Ancelotti had his first stint as Real Madrid manager between 2013 and 2015 where he won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and Copa Del Rey.

The year after winning Europe’s biggest cup competition, Madrid were drawn into a Champions League group with Liverpool and completed the double with a 3-0 win at Anfield followed by a victory 1-0 at the Bernabeu.

Of the four goals, Karim Benzema scored three, showing that Ancelotti knew very well how to get the most out of the Frenchman.

Ancelotti’s record: played two, won two.

Napoli: the group stage glove

Ancelotti spent 18 months as Napoli head coach, taking the reins in May 2018

In that spell he has faced Liverpool four times having been drawn in a Champions League group with the Reds in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns.

Facing Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side for the first time, Ancelotti won 1-0 and lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the first season, before picking up four points against the Reds in 2019/20, shortly before being sacked after helping Napoli qualify. steps.

Ancelotti’s record: two wins, one draw, one defeat.

Everton: Derby underdogs

Appointed Everton boss in December 2019, Ancelotti was not expected to challenge a Liverpool side who were at the top of their game under Klopp.

Despite losing 1-0 in an FA Cup third round clash against the Reds in January 2020, Everton were held to a 0-0 draw in June 2020 which prevented Liverpool from winning the Premier League title at Goodison Park.

The result was a sign of things to come with the Toffees earning a 2-2 draw and a 2-0 victory over the Reds to secure the bragging rights of the blue half of Merseyside in 2020/21.

Ancelotti’s record: Played four, won one, drew two, lost one.