Jordan Pickford has been speaking ahead of Everton's Premier League game against Crystal Palace
Jordan Pickford has urged his Everton team-mates to remain focused on themselves rather than high-flying Crystal Palace. The Blues head into Sunday’s game against the Eagles at Hill Dickinson Stadium without a win in their last four games in all competitions.
Palace, meanwhile, are the only team yet to taste defeat in the top-flight this season after three wins and three draws from their six opening Premier League games. Oliver Glasner’s side find themselves third in the table, one point behind Arsenal and three behind defending champions Liverpool.
David Moyes will be forced into changes this weekend, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s controversial fifth booking of the season against the Hammers means he will miss the game.
"Palace are on a great run," Pickford said. "I think it is something like 18 games. But it’s one of them, it’s about us again. It’s about what we can control.
“We can’t be worried about Palace, even though we know they are a great side. No side is rubbish in the Premier League.
“We know they’re a great side and they won the FA Cup and are coming off the back of a great result against Liverpool at the weekend.
“You don’t take any team lightly. It’s about us turning up. Kiernan is suspended, which is unfortunate, but I don’t know if that is a booking again.
“That’s two unlucky bookings, which has not been great for us, but it gives someone an opportunity to go and stake a claim to get in the team.
“Everyone’s got to train well. Everyone’s got to be fighting for positions, that’s what successful teams become.
“Show a bit of disappointment [after West Ham], but when you get the opportunity, go and grab it and be the difference for us.”
The Blues got off to the perfect start against the Hammers when Michael Keane headed his side ahead after just 18 minutes. But Jarrod Bowen secured Nuno Espirito Santo’s side a point when he finished past Pickford 25 minutes from time.
"I think we started both halves well, but when you're 1-0 up, you've got to go and get that second goal and put pressure on them," Pickford reflected.
"They probably counter-attacked us better in the second half – something their new manager does well, as he proved at Nottingham Forest last season.
"We controlled most of the game, but we just couldn't get that second goal. We kept penetrating, we just lacked a clear-cut chance that would have allowed us to grab the win.
“I don't think we got that. We had a lot of the ball and they sat off, but it was just that clear chance we were missing.
"We defended well, we stayed quite solid and I'm disappointed we didn't get the clean sheet.
"We wanted to win. After we conceded, we didn't crumble, we kept going, kept getting on the ball and trying to find a way to score, but it's one of those – we're disappointed not to get three points and that's the standard we set ourselves now.
"That's what we're striving for – three points every time we go out on the pitch."
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