Roy Keane has questioned Jordan Pickford's performance in Sunday's defeat by Manchester City, insisting the Everton star is not the quality goalkeeper people perceive him to be.
The Blues were beaten 3-0 by Pep Guardiola's side this afternoon, ensuring Sean Dyche's side sit one point and place ahead of 18th-placed Leeds United. There was little Pickford could do for the first goal, beaten by effective quick-thinking from Ilkay Gundogan, though City's two other strikes could well have been kept out.
Diving away from the ball for Haaland's header and slow off the mark for Gundogan's successful free-kick attempt, Keane was quick to criticise England's No.1 after the full-time whistle at Goodison Park.
VERDICT: Everton collapse but Man City truth is clear as Premier League fight goes on
PLAYER RATINGS: One awful and five poor in Manchester City defeat
"Pickford, for the goal, my goodness. He looks so small in there," said the ex-Manchester United midfielder on Sky Sports of the visitors' set-piece effort. "There’s no spring, he’s not anticipating it. Micah [Richards] said before the game he’s a top goalkeeper - he’s not."
Today's game marked a tenth home loss of the season for Everton, with only Leicester City and Southampton dropping more points on their own patch. Reflecting on the Blues' struggles on Merseyside, Keane added: "It’s been tough going. In the last couple of games, it’s been easier for Everton away from home - Brighton and at Leicester, playing on the counter-attack. At home there’s obviously more emotions involved: there’s more tension, there’s more nerves and as soon as the first goal goes in, you think it’s a long way back for Everton.
"Sean Dyche will be disappointed, but they’ll write it off. They know they’ve got the big games coming up next week and I still think they have enough to get the couple of points they need, but they had to write that one off. Especially after they [City] scored the third goal so quickly in the second half, it was damage limitation. You have to take your medicine and move on to the next game."
READ NEXT:
- Mikel Arteta hails Sean Dyche transformation and sends Man City plea
- Everton new stadium can be 'transformative' as Farhad Moshiri edges closer to funding
- Sean Dyche has told Jordan Pickford how to make his Everton wonder-saves unnecessary
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin laughs off suggestions Sean Dyche was 'checking' his mattress
- Paul Mullin continues fine Wrexham form as he nets rival fans £1000
