Everton need Jordan Pickford more than ever vs Man United after surprising new reveal
Jordan Pickford will undoubtedly play a huge role when Everton face Man United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday evening.
Pickford has earned high praise over the years for single-handedly keeping the Toffees in the Premier League on multiple occasions.
His impact at Everton has been monumental, and his influence in L4 has seen him emerge as one of the best ever goalkeepers in England.
After excelling in the 1-0 win over Man United on 24 November, he’ll be in for another busy evening against the Red Devils, who have had the most shots of anyone in the top flight this campaign.
Man United have had the most shots in the Premier League this season
Pickford made six saves and prevented 1.85 xG as the Toffees secured a famous win in Manchester, but Man United have vastly improved since their last meeting.
They have had more shots than any other side in the Premier League this season (417), with this their highest shots-per-game average (16) since 2011-12 (17).
Meanwhile, the last time they topped the shots charts at the end of a season was back in 2007-08.
It’s definitely surprising that Man United top this stat over the likes of Arsenal and Man City, which shows how impressive they’ve been in the final third under Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick.
| Stat | Pickford |
| Appearances | 26 |
| Clean sheets | 9 |
| Penalties saved | 1/2 |
| Saves | 71 |
| Save percentage | 70.3% |
Pickford will have to be alert, but the shot-stopper has proven time and time again why he can be counted on by David Moyes.
According to Sofascore, the England international has prevented 4.52 goals this season, which is the second-highest total in the Premier League.
Having signed a new contract with Everton until 2029, the 31-year-old is one of the highest-paid players in their history, and he’ll have to be alert during Monday night’s clash at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
However, if his stats are anything to go by, Pickford will prove his worth and rise to the test against the Red Devils.
Pickford is still incredibly underrated across Europe
Moyes has an incredible goalkeeper at his disposal, but his reputation around Europe doesn’t match that.
The 31-year-old shot-stopper came third in the Golden Glove award despite Everton’s 13th-placed finish last season, which is a phenomenal achievement.
Although he excels every season, Pickford continues to be judged based on achievements with his team, rather than his prowess as a goalkeeper.
And it certainly feels unfair to criticise him just based on the fact that he hasn’t played in the Champions League or won any major trophies.
Another solid performance against Man United will further cement his status as one of the most talented goalkeepers around, but until Everton qualify for continental football or he wins the World Cup with England, he’ll unfortunately never be mentioned in the same bracket as Europe’s elite.
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