Goodison Tactics: Pickford turns in season best performance v Liverpool
Carlo Ancelotti made history with Everton on Saturday, claiming victory in the Merseyside Derby for the first time in over a decade, and Jordan Pickford played a major role in that success.
Not only did Everton break a decade long curse against the Reds, they also won at Anfield for the first time since 1999, making Ancelotti the first manager to claim such a feat since Walter Smith.
The Blues exercised a committed defensive plan against Jurgen Klopp’s side and were resolute at the back, with Michael Keane in particular standing out as the defensive leader that Everton rely on him to be.
However, it was Pickford who brought his A game in the most effective way.
According to stats by WyScout, Pickford equally a season best amount of saves made [6] against Liverpool, and although he also managed the same number in two other games, he failed to keep a clean sheet in both of those fixtures.
The England international also managed six saves against Leeds in late November where Everton lost 1-0, and in the reverse Merseyside Derby fixture at Goodison Park which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Pickford also relied heavily on his sharp reactions against Liverpool’s lethal front pack, stopping three goal-bound attempts through reflex saves, another aspect of his performance against the Reds that stands out as one of his best this season.
The shot-stopper has only made at least three reflex saves on two other occasions this season, stopping three against Tottenham in the 1-0 opening weekend win and making four reflex stops against Leeds in the November defeat.
Pickford has faced plenty of flak in recent times for being largely inconsistent but it is hard to argue that the goalkeeper doesn’t have clear talent that, when on full display, makes him someone who can be difficult to beat.
Everton need consistency at the back if they are to meet their lofty European ambitions, and Pickford’s performance against Liverpool should stand as a statement of intent from the England international – that he is Everton’s number one and that he isn’t going anywhere.
In other Everton news, a number of Everton supporters have showered praise on defender Ben Godfrey’s performance against Liverpool.