Everton may have beaten Crystal Palace 3-1 on Saturday, but supporters were still critical of the performance from one player – Jordan Pickford. The 25-year-old has been inconsistent this season, conceding soft goals and looking shaky between the sticks, and he was guilty of an error that resulted in Palace equalising.
Early in the second half, Christian Benteke scored from a low close-range effort that somehow went under Pickford and into the back of the net for 1-1. The England international fronted up after the game, admitting the goal was his fault, but fans are starting to lose patience.
Fingers were crossed in the injury time 🤣 another decent display.. Seamus really struggled and pickford poor… But we'd have lost that a few weeks ago #coyb #efc
— Fintan Quinn (@MintyQuinn) February 8, 2020
Pickford is becoming a liability in goal. I'm still not sure on Davies in midfield, but the team played well today. Dug deep, 3 goals. Big win. Up to 7th and now we need to push, we're only 5 points off 4th place.#EFC
— Pól O'Donnghaile (Paul Donnelly) (@deutschkopf) February 8, 2020
Dogged win for #EFC whose forward quality told in the end. Richarlison was superb in the second half and Calvert-Lewin oozes confidence right now. Bad day for Pickford to drop a clanger with Southgate in the stands #CPFC dropping like a stone. Need more from Zaha @talkSPORTLive
— Alex Crook ⚽️🎙 (@alex_crook) February 8, 2020
Can't complain really. Didn't play that well but it's a win with 3 decent goals. Can see what the manager is trying to do by using the full squad. Pickford doesn't fill you with confidence at all at times then pulls off an amazing save. Maybe he needs competition. #EFC
— Marc (@Marc__T) February 8, 2020
Jordan Pickford was Jekyll & Hyde again today for Everton.
Conceded a soft goal (said his foot got stuck) that he should have saved, then made a brilliant save that he should have conceded from. #EFC #EVECRY pic.twitter.com/tzFStJ37Wx— Royal Blue Mersey (@RBMersey) February 8, 2020
#EVECRY not exactly a classic but #EFC definitely deserved the win.
Sidibe, Coleman & Richarlison excellent, and his goal was the standout moment.
Still plenty to work on though as we were nowhere near as fluent as we can be & Jordan Pickford’s mistake was a worry. #COYB #UTFT— Mike Peters (@djmikepeters) February 8, 2020
Good win today. On a different day however and without Richarlison, Pickford costs us points again. He’s a liability. #EFC
— Paul (@covo_85) February 8, 2020
Pickford did atone for his error with a fantastic point-blank save from Benteke’s close-range header, but he can’t continue turning in Jekyll and Hyde performances. Carlo Ancelotti has Jonas Lossl and Maarten Stekelenburg if he wanted to replace Pickford, but it remains to be seen if he’ll make a change ahead of their meeting with Arsenal (February 23).
The 25-year-old has made 31 appearances in all competitions this season, conceding 42 goals and keeping only eight clean sheets. Pickford has shipped six goals in Everton’s last four games, but will he lose his place between the sticks?