Ratcliffe backs Toffees to push Reds

Published: 06/01/2009

Everton legend Kevin Ratcliffe is adamant the Toffees cannot be written off when they face two trips to Anfield for crunch derbies with neighbours Liverpool in a week.

The league clash on January 19 followed by the FA Cup fourth-round showdown on the weekend of the 24th are being viewed by many in the context of how the results will effect Liverpool's quest for a possible double.

But Ratcliffe believes Everton can throw a spanner in the works as far as Liverpool's expected march to glory is concerned.

And there is a feeling of deja vu from the former Wales and Everton skipper, who recalls feeling as if Everton "were just there to make up the numbers" 20 years ago when the clubs clashed in the Cup Final at Wembley in 1989, the year of the Hillsborough disaster.

Ratcliffe said: "I do not think home advantage will count for much, and Everton will have a lot of fans at Anfield for the cup tie.

"I certainly felt as if Everton were just there to make up the numbers at that cup final after Hillsborough. We lost and everyone seemed to believe it was Liverpool's destiny.

"You can sense that again now. But Everton will want to win both the games later this month.

"They certainly won't want to lose the league game having already lost to Liverpool at Goodison Park this season, they'll want some revenge for that.

"And they will want to win the cup tie because they obviously have more chance of winning the cup than they have the league.

"They have done superbly to get themselves into the top six without a recognised striker fit. And you certainly cannot write off Everton in either of these two upcoming derbies."