Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez is ready for a frosty welcome from the Everton fans when he returns to Merseyside for the first time since getting the sack at Liverpool two-and-a-half years ago.
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The Spaniard is much maligned by the Toffees faithful for claiming they had a "small club mentality", and several altercations with Blues boss David Moyes when in charge of their rivals across Stanley Park.
The 52-year-old's family still reside in Liverpool, and the former Inter Milan boss would not rule out a return to the Reds in the future, but maintained that he is happy to be in charge of the London club.
"At the moment, I'm really pleased here," he told reporters in his pre-match press conference.
"I want to keep winning and you never know what can happen in football. I have a very good relationship with the fans and the city but I'm a good professional and that means I will give 100 percent for this club.
"It is always something special when you go back to Liverpool. My connection with the city is very strong."
Benitez was also much more reserved in his comments about the Toffees, careful not to underestimate Moyes' men who remain just two points behind last season's champions of Europe.
"What I can say is that Everton are doing well," he added. "I don't think it is fair for me to talk about one [set of fans] or the other one. I think it is fair for me to say that we are playing Everton and they are doing well.
"Moyes is doing a great job, they have good players and a good team spirit and it will be difficult for us.
"What happens inside the ground will happen but one thing I will say is that, in England, football is something special."
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