Carlo Ancelotti lauds Leeds striker Patrick Bamford

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Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he was not previously aware of Patrick Bamford, but insisted that the Leeds United star is a fantastic striker, in comments reported by the Liverpool Echo.

Bamford has been a revelation in the Premier League this season. Ahead of the campaign, many doubted whether he would able to score goals at the highest level.

However, his doubters have been silenced emphatically. Bamford – who earns £35,000-a-week, according to Spotrac – already has 11 goals this term. And he goes into Wednesday’s clash with Everton off the back of one of his best performances this season.

He was outstanding at Leicester at the weekend. He scored one and provided two assists as Leeds came from behind to win 2-1.

And ahead of the Toffees’ trip to Elland Road, Ancelotti suggested that he has been hugely impressed.

“Honestly I didn’t know Bamford, he plays really well and is a really good striker,” he said, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. “I didn’t know him before, but I have to say he is a fantastic striker. Maybe Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] is more powerful, but in-game Bamford is really intelligent.”

Everton have their own surprise package in Calvert-Lewin. He is just three goals away from achieving his best tally in a single Premier League season.

The two strikers are both on 11 goals this season. So they will certainly be the two men that will be under the brightest spotlights on Wednesday.

Having said that, neither player is their side’s only goal threat by any means. Of course, in the previous meeting between the two, neither got the decisive goal with Leeds winger Raphinha scoring the winner.