Everton duo Jordan Pickford and Conor Coady make Garth Crooks Team of the Week
BBC pundit Garth Crooks has named Everton duo Jordan Pickford and Conor Coady in his Premier League Team of the Week after their performances against Liverpool.
Pickford made a string of world-class saves to prevent Liverpool from snatching a victory, including a stunning stop to prevent Darwin Nunez.
Coady helped the Toffees to a clean sheet and had a goal disallowed in the second half for offside at Goodison Park.
Crook was full of praise for the Everton pair after their displays at Goodison Park.
Writing on the BBC Sport website on Sunday 4 September, Crooks said: “It was a cracking Merseyside derby at the weekend.
“There were three fabulous saves by Pickford from Roberto Firmino and yet it was the stop from Darwin Nunez that had me applauding.
“Pickford looks in good form at the moment and he was outstanding against Liverpool but that’s when I start to get very nervous about his performances.
“If he can retain this level of consistency then Everton and England will benefit enormously. Sadly, however, I can’t help feeling there’s always a mistake in Pickford especially when he’s been playing well.”
Crooks added: “This lad has adjusted to his new environment very quickly. At Wolves, Coady looked commanding and I still can’t quite work out why they let him go.
“However he has slotted into the Everton back four very nicely and is starting to look as authoritative as he did when he was playing for the Wanderers.”
Positive signs
Although Everton are still awaiting their first win of the Premier League season, there are lots of positive signs to take from recent performances.
The Toffees can count themselves unlucky to have not come away from Goodison Park with all three points, particularly after Coady’s goal was dubiously ruled out for offside.
Outspoken Evertonian and radio host Mike Parry blasted the decision (via Twitter, 3 September) after the stalemate at Goodison Park.
What is a big positive for Everton is that they look extremely solid at the back and ultimately that had to be Frank Lampard’s priority.
The attacking side of the game will come for the Toffees, but only conceding one goal a game dramatically increases their chances of picking up points at this early stage of the season.
Everton boast one of the best defensive records outside the top-six at the moment so there should be plenty of optimism that when the goals start flowing, the Toffees will rise dramatically up the Premier League standings.