Alan Brazil slams Jordan Pickford for Everton blunder v Liverpool live on talkSPORT
TalkSPORT host Alan Brazil believes Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was made to look a “fool” by Mo Salah during the Merseyside Derby on Monday night (13 February).
The Toffees shot-stopper came under heavy criticism for his role in the Egyptian’s opening goal, which came just seconds after James Tarkowski had headed against the post at the other end.
The Liverpool counter-attack caught Sean Dyche’s side napping and Pickford was found in no man’s land at the end of the move to allow Salah to prod home into an empty net.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on Tuesday morning (14 February), Brazil slammed Pickford for being out-foxed by Sarah’s clever movement after co-host Dean Saunders had attempted to defend his decision-making.
“Pickford, it’s a terrible mistake, but I can see what he’s trying to do,” Saunders said
“He’s trying to read it. He thinks it’s going to go to Gakpo at the back post, but Salah runs straight through the middle of the pitch, and get’s there before him, and it looks like an easy finish, but it’s not.”
Brazil added: “Pickford, he thought Salah was going to miss it, so he was trying to be a little bit too clever.
“He’s tried to say, ‘well he’s not got it, so I’ll cut it out’, and that’s why he looked a fool.”
Blunder
Pickford quite clearly made a big error in the Merseyside Derby, but Saunders does make a good point when assessing the goal in more detail.
You could see the Toffees keeper thought the ball was going to Gakpo at the back post, which he was attempting to cut off. Obviously, it ended up being a huge mistake because of the clever movement of Salah, but it was definitely an excusable error.
Considering the brilliant performances that the England No.1 has strung together over the last 12 months, it’s harsh to jump on Pickford’s back for one mistake. Everton probably would be in the Championship if it hadn’t been for the 28-year-old’s heroics last season, so the odd mistake such as this can be accepted.
At the end of the day, Dyche’s side won’t be measured on their performance in the Merseyside Derby. Upcoming matches against Leeds, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will prove pivotal in their fight against relegation – and Pickford will need to be at his best once again.