Five things we’ve learned about Everton in 2020/21 so far
By Chris Smith
Jordan Pickford has continued to make high-profile mistakes in 2020/21.
5. Everton still have a goalkeeper problem
Jordan Pickford arrived at Goodison Park from Sunderland in 2017 as one of England’s most promising young goalkeepers and for a while, he looked like making good on that potential, culminating in a fine 2018 World Cup performance for the Three Lions.
During the time since, however, it’s safe to say things have spiralled out of control for Pickford to the point where the 26-year-old is now a liability.
Since the start of last season, no player in the Premier League has made more errors leading to shots (8) or errors leading to goals (5) than Pickford, while he has also conceded a league-high 11 goals from shots originating outside the box — level with Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalga.
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At first, you got the feeling Pickford was crumbling under the pressure of the Goodison crowd, but even with supporters unable to attend, the England international has continued to look like a broken goalkeeper.
Of course, Everton signed Robin Olsen on loan from Roma on deadline day to offer competition for Pickford, but the Swedish ‘keeper has doubters of his own having failed to nail down a place at the Stadio Olimpico. The 30-year-old made the joint-highest number of errors leading to goals (3) among goalkeepers in Serie A during 2018/19 and was subsequently loaned out to Cagliari for the last campaign.
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One way or another, whoever lines up between the sticks needs to be more reliable if Everton are to seriously challenge for trophies and European places.