Carlo Ancelotti wants Everton to seize a “great opportunity” to remain among the Premier League’s frontrunners when Manchester United visit Goodison Park on Saturday.

Everton sit fourth in the table after being knocked off top spot following defeats by Southampton and Newcastle United in their past two games.

Ancelotti welcomes back the influential quartet of James Rodriguez, Lucas Digne, Seamus Coleman and Mason Holgate this weekend.

United are 15th, six points behind Everton, but have been flawless on their league travels this season – and had won a club-record 10 successive away games in all competitions before losing a Champions League match to Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday.

“It is a great opportunity to forget our two defeats and to stay at the top of the table,” said Ancelotti.

“It is a really important opportunity.

“It will be difficult because we know Manchester United is a strong, strong team… with experience and a lot of quality.

“It is true they were up and down in this first period of the season.

“But in some games they played really well.

“We have to accept after they lost their past two games [United were beaten at home by Arsenal last week] we will face a team with strong, strong motivation.

“But it is an opportunity for us and we want to take this opportunity.

“We have to move forward from these two defeats that were not good, to come back and play well and show fighting spirit.”

Everton will complete half the job against United by recording a first clean sheet since the opening week of the season.

Ancelotti’s side has scored 18 goals in five Goodison league and cup games but let in seven – six in three Premier League matches.

Too many, says Ancelotti, who echoed the view of Michael Keane after the centre-back’s call for a stronger collective defensive effort following last week’s loss at Newcastle.

Ancelotti has already confirmed Jordan Pickford will form his last line of defence against United, the goalkeeper returning after sitting out against Newcastle following 120 straight league appearances.

“I have no message for Jordan,” said Ancelotti, talking in his Friday pre-match press conference.

“I talked to him every day this week, we laughed and were together.

“He knows what to do tomorrow.

“His mentality is good.

“He is a good guy, a funny guy, I don’t want to change his mentality or character.

“He has to use his instinct, which is really good.

“When he reacts [to make saves], he is really top, top.

“He is still a young goalkeeper with a lot of quality… and character and personality.

“We are working on keeping clean sheets, we had only one [in the league, when winning at Tottenham Hotspur on the season’s opening day] when we defended really well.

“I told the players we have to defend better.

“Most of the goals we conceded were individual mistakes, not tactical mistakes.

“We have to improve there because it is really important to keep clean sheets.

“If you keep clean sheets, the worst [result you can achieve] is a draw.

“To defend well is not a problem of quality, only a problem of sacrifice and concentration.”

Ancelotti confessed to a defensive selection dilemma with centre-half Holgate back from a toe problem and full-backs Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne available after injury and suspension respectively.

Regardless of who he plumps for, the Italian acknowledged Everton must contain a United team awash with explosive attacking talent.

In addition to being quizzed on his renewed squad depth and the ability of United’s express forwards, Ancelotti was asked about Ellis Simms, the 19-year-old striker who featured in a senior matchday squad for only the third time last week after five goals in six Under-23 matches this season.

“We have good players in the Academy and they are improving,” said Ancelotti.

“I try to bring them into training.

“Ellis is doing well with the Under-23s and when he is training with us.

“He can be – like all the players of the Academy – the future of this club

“They need to have this dream.”