Pickford error again in Everton win

Everton scored four again but Jordan Pickford was once more at fault in Brighton’s equaliser as the Blues beat the Seagulls at Goodison Park.

Despite another four-star show from Everton, goalkeeper Pickford yet again made a basic error that cost the Blues another unnecessary goal.

After today’s performance I think the Blues simply have to pull out all the stops to get another keeper in as Pickford’ fallibility is almost certainly going to cost Everton dearly this season.

There are just two days left in the Premier League transfer window so not much time then for the Toffees to sort something out before that deadline.

The window for deals with championship clubs is still open for a couple of weeks after that and so in theory the Toffees might be able to try and get a capable goalkeeper like Freddie Woodman in if they can shift a few players out and find the money for a decent enough bid..?

Along with Pickford’s erraticism, the other element that might sabotage the season, is the club’s incredible bad luck with injuries.

Again for the second game in a row, Richarlison went hobbling off the pitch 25 minutes into the first half with the extent of his latest problem not yet known. Then in the second half Seamus Coleman also picked up a knock and left the field too!

I was a little surprised that the Brazilian forward started this afternoon. He obviously passed a late fitness test, but didn’t last long and went down after a strong challenge from Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey who seemed to be obviously trying to test his fitness.

I just hope that Coleman’s injury isn’t too serious either, because Jonjo Kenny is already out for four weeks and so that would leave the Toffees without a single fit right-back!

Leaving that aside, the actual match today followed a regular pattern that the Blues have established this season. Everton began the game brightly and quickly took command, controlling the ball with relative ease.

Despite the teeming rain, once more James Rodriguez was pulling all the strings for the home side, delivering another masterclass in creative flair and skill.

Gylfi Sigurdsson was also having a fine game, complementing the Colombian’s creative excellence and it was from his ball into the box that Dominic Calvert-Lewin met with another superb leap and powerful, accurate header for the new England man’s ninth goal already of this campaign.

The Blues were dominating the half, Brighton were struggling to get any traction in the match and weren’t any real threat at all.

Then with just five minutes left until the end of the half, Pickford’s error let in the visitors. After he dropped the ball, the Brighton forward Neal Maupay pounced and made no mistake punishing him and Everton, with a scarcely deserved equaliser.

So it looked like the Seagulls would be going into the break level. Then right on halftime from James Rodriguez’ corner, his compatriot Yerry Mina scored for the first ever all-Colombian goal in the Premier League’s history.

More from Prince Rupert's Tower

• Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
• Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
• Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
• More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
• Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions

The match followed a similar pattern in the second half with Everton still on top, although Brighton had an increasing amount of possession with the Toffees content to let them have the ball for periods and look to hit them quickly on the break.

Then in the space of 12 minutes the game was over. Two superb finishes from Rodriguez after good work from first Alex Iwobi and then Abdoulaye Doucoure, made it 4-1. And although Brighton scored a very late second, the points once more were safe.

As well as the latest display of brilliance from former Real Madrid star Rodriguez and a fine performance from Sigurdsson, Iwobi who came on for Richarlison and Tom Davies too had good games overall too.

So the Blues are four from four with a fantastic 100% record in what it is a dream start to the season. Going into tomorrow’s games the Toffees are once more top of the Premier League.

Now comes the international break and then a massive derby game against one of the Everton’s possible title-rivals this season!