Everton v Chelsea: Jamie Carragher bemused by what Jordan Pickford did in ‘nightmare’ collapse
Jamie Carragher had no idea why Jordan Pickford gave the ball away with a weak-foot pass during his Everton “nightmare” at Chelsea.
The Sky Sports pundit reacted on the broadcaster’s half-time analysis of the dismal trip to Stamford Bridge on 15 April, to express his confusion at the England number one’s loose attempted pass to Amadou Onana in the first half of the heavy defeat, as it was easily intercepted by Cole Palmer and lofted into an empty net to complete a 29-minute hattrick.
It came in an all-round horror evening in the capital with Carragher suggesting the Toffees keeper should have used his “great” left foot or simply gone short to James Tarkowski as Sean Dyche’s side collapsed to go in 4-0 down at the break, before going on to lose 6-0.
The former Liverpool defender said (8.58pm): “Listen, Jordan Pickford’s had a nightmare. He should have done better on that one. I just don’t know why he’s trying to pass through Chelsea with his right foot. He’s got a great left foot.
“But that’s the difference when you see a goalkeeper using his right foot [compared to] an outfield player using a his right foot. It’s a poor first touch, he’s just got to go to Tarkowski, but that is a great finish [from Palmer] with your weaker foot, it really is.”
Cole Palmer punishes Everton in Stamford Bridge thrashing
Pickford has often been one of the few shining lights for Everton but, despite making a few necessary saves to keep the damage down, he was more part of the problem at Chelsea.
He was far from alone as a key player having a bad night as Jarrad Branthwaite struggled, particularly for the first Palmer goal after just 13 minutes.
Pickford’s confidence looked shot as he almost palmed a relatively simple take onto Nicolas Jackson’s knee and back into his net after the break, so he will need to consign this outing to history and rebound as quickly as possible.
A trip to West London to face Chelsea has rarely been a comfortable assignment for the Toffees in recent history, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side have drawn with both Burnley and Sheffield United in recent weeks, while Dyche’s men finally got a win against the Clarets last week.
Everton had also come away from Stamford Bridge with a point in two of the past three seasons, but this was reminiscent of some of trips to face the trophy-winning Roman Abramovich-era sides.
Had Beto been able to get over a Seamus Coleman ball over in front of an open net with the score goalless it could have been very different, but after the ball, fired over high and at speed, cannoned over off the striker’s shin virtually nothing went right for Everton.
With a relegation battle to fight in the wake of two points deductions this was the last thing Dyche needed, but he has to generate a response from his squad in time to face fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest next week.
In other Everton news, Farhad Moshiri has led last-gasp 777 talks for deadline extension from MSP Sports Capital.
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