Alan Shearer names Everton trio in his Team of the Week
Alan Shearer has named Everton trio Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey in his Team of the Week.
Everton beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield last Saturday and all three players played the duration, as the Toffees claimed their first away win over the Reds since 1999.
It was also the first time Everton had beaten Liverpool in all competitions since late 2010, with Carlo Ancelotti ending a decade long dry spell against his club’s bitter rivals.
Pickford in particular was in fine form for the Blues, pulling off a string of saves that kept his side in the contest.
Keane and Godfrey meanwhile ensured that Everton kept their defensive solidity at the back as part of a five-man backline, earning a hard-fought clean sheet through confident and committed defensive displays.
Everton will hope that these players can continue their recent run of form into their next two Premier League fixtures against Southampton and West Brom next week.
Deserved recognition
Pickford has often been the subject of criticism on Merseyside in recent months but the England shot-stopper deserves credit for his display against Liverpool.
In fact the whole defensive unit deserves praise for stopping Liverpool’s front three, but Pickford specifically displayed his talent for all to see.
The former Sunderland man’s problem has always been his lack of consistency, not a lack of quality, and so we hope that performances like the one against the Reds might inspire him to maintain that level.
Godfrey and Keane do also deserve there share of the spoils though, with the former having mightily impressed this season while the latter must surely be considered a guarantee for England at Euro 2021.
Collectively Everton have improved at the back this season, and while Carlo Ancelotti’s influence cannot be understated, the players quite rightly deserve respect for their tenacity and commitment.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are considering a summer move for soon-to-be free transfer Lucas Vasquez.