Everton goalkeeper endured a troubled start to last season but has now proved he can thrive when the going gets tough
Five months ago, Jordan Pickford walked out at Anfield into the eye of a storm. His form for Everton had been poor for several months. He had been briefly dropped in November by manager Carlo Ancelotti, ending a proud run of 120 consecutive league games. Plenty of Everton fans wanted him gone. Plenty of England fans felt the same way.
Plus, it’s fair to say Pickford and Liverpool had history. Back in 2018 his 96th-minute howler had gifted a winning goal to Divock Origi. Earlier on last season, a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk at Goodison had brought death threats from Liverpool fans and turned him into a figure of public ridicule for weeks. Now, with the resentment still simmering, at the lowest point of his professional career, at a ground that held only bad memories, there would be no hiding place.
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