Kieron Dyer slams Jordan Pickford as Everton lose 1-0 v West Ham
Kieron Dyer disagrees with Rafa Benitez after the Everton manager claimed West Ham’s goal on Sunday shouldn’t have stood.
Angelo Ogbonna headed in the winning goal at Goodison Park after Jordan Pickford conceded a corner when he challenged Michail Antonio in the air for the ball.
After the match, Benitez suggested Pickford was fouled by Antonio as he gave away the corner [Liverpool Echo].
However, ex-West Ham midfielder Dyer does not believe that was the case and instead feels England goalkeeper Pickford should have done a better job at winning the aerial duel against Antonio.
“I didn’t think it was a foul at all,” said Dyer on Sky Sports Premier League after the match on Sunday afternoon.
“I thought it was a great spring by Antonio and if I’m being really honest, Pickford has to punch that ball.
“He’s not going to catch the ball, he can sense how high Antonio is.
“Punch the ball away but for me, that wasn’t a foul that led to the goal.”
Rafa’s wrong
We can understand why Benitez was fuming after the game but after watching plenty of replays, it was a corner and it definitely wasn’t a foul.
Goalkeepers are often over-protected by referees.
If an attacking player goes up in the air with a goalkeeper and the goalkeeper goes to ground or misses out on the ball, you often see the referee whistle up in favour of the man with the gloves.
However, Stuart Attwell got it right on Sunday.
Pickford and Antonio challenged for the ball fairly. Pickford just lost out.
It’s yet another piece of poor goalkeeping in an Everton shirt by England’s number one, who should never be losing aerial duels to outfield players.
Antonio is one of the best in the Premier League and possibly the most dangerous striker in England in that kind of situation. Why isn’t Pickford punching the ball away and avoiding any risks?
Dyer’s got this spot on. Benitez and Pickford got it totally wrong.
In other Everton news, Jamie Carragher blasted a “ridiculous” situation surrounding this Goodison star.
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