Declan Walsh

Mon 5 April 2021 10:16, UK

We’re into April and Liverpool are still moaning about Jordan Pickford’s challenge on Virgil van Dijk when Everton drew the Merseyside derby back in October.

While it’s one thing seeing Liverpool fans moaning about the Pickford-van Dijk incident, it’s totally another thing when Anfield chairman Tom Werner uses it as an explanation behind his side’s struggles this season in the Premier League.

In an interview with The Athletic website, Werner was asked about why Liverpool have ultimately failed in their first-ever Premier League title defence.

While Werner pointed to COVID as a factor, he also blamed Everton number one Pickford – who he couldn’t even bring himself to blame.

Werner said: “When the Everton goalkeeper took out Virgil van Dijk for the season, that was a blow because he was not only such a critical part of our defense, but a leader.”

It’s a funny way for Werner to say that Jurgen Klopp’s side have failed because even their best players have massively underperformed this season.

Yes, van Dijk’s injury is a massive blow for them – we get that. But it’s not as though Liverpool’s title defence ended as soon as he was injured.

After the Merseyside derby in October, the Reds went 11 games without losing in the Premier League. They’re also in the Champions League quarter-finals and have won three of their last five league matches without conceding a goal.

Werner’s comments have made Liverpool a parody of themselves in that we’re constantly mocking them for bringing up the Pickford-van Dijk incident even when it’s totally irrelevant now.

It’s time to get over it, Kopites. Every team has injuries and at the end of the day, your failures this season are not down to Pickford.

Get a grip on reality and realise that.

In other Everton news, scouts have been blown away by this international striker who’s playing in England.

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