Carlo Ancelotti believes Everton will learn their truest ability against Liverpool.
Saturday’s 237th Merseyside derby sees the Blues facing their local rivals from the position of league leaders for a first time since September 1989.
Their 100 per cent start to the campaign is at odds with Jurgen Klopp’s side, who received a 7-2 hammering by Aston Villa before the international break.
But Ancelotti sees the latest meeting with the defending Premier League champions as a reliable yardstick of how far his resurgent charges have come.
He said: “To be a challenger for Liverpool could be really good for us.
“But Liverpool is doing so well. I think we are not so far, but still far from them. We can have a good test against them on Saturday to see how far away we are.
“They are the best, they were the best last season and one of the best teams in the world, so it’s a fantastic challenge.
“The message for us is [that] we are going to have an exciting game, it’s a derby. Be confident and be happy to play this game.
“I think the feeling in the dressing room is good. We’ve started really well, we know it will be a fantastic challenge.
“We are ready for the challenge, knowing it will be the most difficult challenge for us in this moment.”
Everton have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Goodison Park showdown with Yerry Mina, Allan, Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes all passed fit.