Everton: 3 burning questions before the match with Southampton

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Everton’s English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford reacts during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Everton at Bramall Lane stadium in Sheffield, northern England, on July 20, 2020. (Photo by Rui Vieira / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/AFP via Getty Images) /

Jordan Pickford’s form has been iffy and he has been under constant criticism after the Derby.

2. The form of Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford always seems to be in a glass bowl full of controversy and criticism.

Going into last Saturday’s Merseyside Derby the persistent question around the ‘keeper with 26 England caps was not would he make an error, but would it cost Everton the match? The 26-year-old did make two good saves and wasn’t at fault for either of the two Liverpool scores in the 2-2 draw.

However, Pickford can’t seem to avoid controversy. Early in the first half, Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk came barrelling towards Pickford and the Everton goal. The Everton ‘keeper crashed into Van Dijk, who promptly grabbed his knee and rolled around like he had been knee-capped.

VAR showed Van Dijk was offside, so Pickford suffered no punishment. Van Dijk is set to miss a number of games because of an ACL injury, caused by the collision.

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Cue the onslaught from the media, social media and opposing coaches. Comments in social media got so bad that Merseyside Police said they would investigate them.

According to BBC Radio Merseyside, a Merseyside Police spokesman said:

"The language used in the tweets is totally unacceptable and we are taking the reports extremely seriously. Those who use the internet to target others, and who commit criminal offences such as making threats or committing a hate crime in doing so, are not beyond the law."

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl piled on Pickford in Saturday’s Daily Mail,

"I think yes, Pickford should have been sent off."

Meanwhile, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti stood firm alongside his keeper. He told Friday’s Guardian,

"I saw him in training this week and he was focused, he put in a good performance in training and he was concentrated. This is what I want to see from a player. After if he has a problem I want him to come to me to talk but he didn’t come to me so I think he is absolutely OK."

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