Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville blame Jordan Pickford for Everton red card v Brentford
Jamie Carragher blamed Jordan Pickford for the red card that Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite received in the 3-2 loss to Brentford.
The young centre-back saw red seconds after Richarlison wasn’t awarded a penalty at the other end, after bringing down Ivan Toney as the last defender, and ex-Liverpool man Carragher thinks the Toffees would have won the game and been “safe” without it .
He pointed to goalkeeper Pickford as responsible, for retreating into his box as the long ball came down the pitch rather than staying high and clearing it like he says top Premier League keepers Alisson and Ederson would, which Gary Neville agreed with.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (7.28pm) the pundit pointed out the England number one was 10 yards from the position of the foul when the ball was kicked, compared to 36 for Branthwaite, and said: “I think he’s in a really good position… If that’s Alisson, if that’s Ederson, that’s the position they take up.
“Jordan Pickford for me is not brave enough. When you’re playing that high your goalkeeper’s got to be brave as well.
“I think the top goalkeepers in this country deal with this, and they’re aggressive, and they’re coming out to stop this.
“Just watch Jordan Pickford, as soon as the ball’s played he just retreats and he goes back.
“Yes Branthwaite’s been caught there, he didn’t get back quick enough, but Jordan Pickford should have been more aggressive to deal with it.”
Neville then added: “Yeah I think in the modern game, sweeper-keeper, you just almost expect it now that the goalkeeper will be out there, 30 yards outside his box dealing with any long ball over the top.
“I was surprised. Particularly with his starting position, he’s there, he’s literally there… I wouldn’t expect him to let it bounce.”
Human after all
The performances in goal from Pickford have been crucial in back-to-back victories over Chelsea and Leicester, but his role in the latest loss has been called into question.
It is valid criticism but he can hardly be held responsible for all the factors that led to such a crucial turning point in the game.
The decision from Michael Oliver not to award a penalty at the other end, the role of his young defender, and subsequent events in the game mean the result isn’t all on him.
But after such heroics appeared to have put the club in position to survive almost single-handedly it is an unwelcome return to earth to have a role in a negative incident highlighted like this.
Fans will surely excuse one mistake considering how key he has been this season, especially in recent games.
A game that appeared to be there for the taking at Goodison went against Frank Lampard and his men through a combination of bad luck and bad decision-making.
But their fate is still in their hands so they have to put this missed opportunity out of their minds and finish the job this week.
In other Everton news, a former head of refereeing has pointed at players not knowing the rules in response to Lampard’s post-match comments.
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