View: Irony surely not lost on Lineker after what he's said about Everton player

Gary Lineker raised an important question about Everton star Jordan Pickford after the 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

The 30-year-old heroically saved a 53rd-minute penalty from Erling Haaland to secure a share of the spoils at the Etihad Stadium (26 December), a day after it was reported that the Blues plan to offer the shot-stopper a lifetime contract [TBR Football].

However, when analysing the result on Boxing Day for Match of the Day (26 December, 1:09:33), former Toffees forward Lineker questioned whether Pickford rightfully receives his flowers for his displays in an Everton shirt.

He said: “I wonder whether [Pickford] gets perhaps the respect he deserves as a goalkeeper? I think [he’s] slightly underrated because he’s remarkably consistent.”

Jordan Pickford has been vitally important for Everton

The simple answer is no.

While Pickford ended his streak of three consecutive clean sheets at the Etihad, his penalty save kept the Blues’ unbeaten record alive, and news outlets such as ESPN decided to dissect the method behind the madness instead of lauding his brilliance.

Even in the aftermath of the 0-0 draw against Chelsea (22 December), former goalkeeper Ben Foster proceeded to slam Pickford for his challenge on Malo Gusto, which was rightfully deemed a legal tackle rather than noting the fact that he thwarted one of the most in-form attacking outfits in the Premier League.

At this point, it is becoming farcical: England’s number one is good enough to play between the sticks for arguably any side in the top division, and because he plies his trade at Everton, he is scrutinised at any given turn.

He is leading the race for the Golden Glove with seven clean sheets, level with Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels with one less game played.

What more does Pickford have to do to get the flowers he deserves?

The Everton faithful know just how good their goalkeeper is, and should Sean Dyche avoid relegation this season, Pickford will be looked back on as one of the main reasons the Toffees secured their Premier League status.

Lineker is right in raising the question of whether Pickford gets the praise he deserves, but the irony is that it is his colleagues at the BBC, as well as pundits at Sky Sports and elsewhere, who repeatedly knock him down.

In other Everton news, one Blues player is in the last chance saloon after what Sean Dyche said.

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