BBC Sport pundit labels Jordan Pickford ‘bizarre’ for what he did in Everton defeat vs Manchester City
Jermaine Beckford has questioned the “bizarre” goalkeeping he saw from Jordan Pickford as Everton fell to a 3-1 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday (27 December).
Pickford failed to keep out Phil Foden’s drive from 25 yards out as the England international cancelled out Jack Harrison’s first-half opener.
Everton’s number one was also partially blamed for failing to keep out Julian Alvarez’s penalty and Bernardo Silva’s late third at Goodison Park.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live [27 December, 3h, 14m 6s], former Everton striker Beckford said: “Jordan Pickford’s starting position was completely wrong for Phil Foden’s goal.
“It’s bizarre because it looks like he takes a step or two to his right-hand side just before Foden has a shot from the edge of the box, but when you watch it back, he’s got no reason to do that.
“His starting position is good, then when Foden pulls his foot back he takes a couple of steps to his right maybe thinking he’ll whip it to the far corner. But as a goalkeeper you’re told to cover your near post.”
Move on
Watching back the footage, as shared on social media by Amazon Prime Video [27 December], you can see what Beckford means.
Pickford moves ever so slightly to his right, meaning the weight is effectively on that side of his body as he attempts to shift back to his left.
The strike from Foden was absolutely superb, so it is not like this was a complete howler, but Pickford may have kept it out had he not made that initial shift.
Pickford was more at fault for City’s third goal as Jarrad Branthwaite failed to control his pass and Silva took full advantage by converting.
Mistakes happen, though, and Pickford has saved Everton plenty of times not just this season but over a number of years now.
As ever, it is just a case of putting this performance behind him and picking himself up in time for Saturday’s (30 December) trip to Wolves.
In other Everton news, a player linked with a move away from Goodison Park has spoken out on his future.