Goodison Stats: Jordan Pickford sets season best record against Southampton
Jordan Pickford stole headlines for denying Jannik Vestergaard a close-range goal in the dying moments of the game on Monday, as Everton beat Southampton 1-0.
That small moment amounts to just one of many top saves the former Sunderland man has made over the past few fixtures since returning from a minor rib injury.
Pickford and loan signing Robin Olsen have been jostling for the position of starting shot-stopper for the Toffees throughout the season, and the England international’s recent performances might have just won him favour with Carlo Ancelotti for the time being.
Something that has gone largely unnoticed however was how Pickford set a season best record against the Saints in one particular area: exits from the line.
WyScout define an exit from the line as: ‘an attempt from the part of the goalkeeper to actively play a high cross or a long aerial pass in the air, either to claim or to punch the ball.’
According to stats gathered by WyScout, Pickford played an aerially crossed ball, either by punching it or claiming it, five times against Southampton – setting a personal record for the season from the goalkeeper.
Before facing Southampton Pickford had only managed four exits in a single game on three other occasions, while Olsen’s best record [1 exit] is considerably lower.
Pickford has been criticised in the past for failing to command his box with authority so this particularly statistic indicates that the 26-year old is continuing to develop his game.
Pickford will be acutely aware that with England set to feature in Euro 2020 later this summer, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate will be closely monitoring his progression between now and the end of the season.
If Pickford can retain his starting spot at Everton over Olsen for the remainder of the campaign it would stand him in good stead once Southgate begins preparations for the continental tournament.
In other Everton news, Tottenham could rival Everton for Real Madrid winger Lucas Vasquez’s signature this summer.