Everton great Graham Sharp says manager Carlo Ancelotti can bring the glory days back to Goodison Park.

Sharp's goals helped the Toffees to two titles, an FA Cup triumph and success in the European Cup Winners' Cup in a ­decade in which Merseyside led the way, Liverpool winning the First Division ­title six times.

“Carlo knows the game inside out," said Sharp. “You just have to look at his record to substantiate that. Ask most Evertonians whether they expected him to be ­appointed? They would have said no.

“They would probably have thought he would have gone somewhere else. It was a coup getting him here.

“Liverpool, though, have laid down the marker. It's never nice living in a city with two clubs when your neighbour is always doing better. Yes, it makes it more difficult, but it also drives you on to try and ­emulate and eventually surpass them."