Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has spoken about the controversy over Liverpool's winning goal and James Tarkowski's challenge on Alexis Mac Allister in the Merseyside Deby at Anfield
Comments
Sport
Jordan Pickford has had his say on the two major flashpoints in Everton’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield with the goalkeeper stating that Luis Diaz “looked offside,” in the build-up to Diogo Jota’s match-winner. Replays showed the Colombian winger had been standing in an offside position earlier in the build-up to the goal, but he was deemed not to be interfering with play and it was allowed to stand, much to Blues boss David Moyes’ fury.
Article continues below
Pickford said: “I’m not the ref and I don’t think I’d ever want to be a ref. Hopefully, we get a better explanation because Diaz is offside looking back at the picture.
“Whatever gets said, I don’t know. I think it’s in Tarky’s eyeline because if you see someone behind you, your decision is different, but that’s for the referees to explain.
READ MORE: 'Deserves analysis' - National media question Liverpool winner vs Everton and deliver James Tarkowski verdictREAD MORE: Liverpool reaction speaks volumes after baffling Everton decision shows difference between teams
“We move on. We’re disappointed with it but that’s football.
“The refs have made their mind up but we think it’s offside. VAR is a different story, but it looked offside.”
When asked about the other significant VAR controversy, James Tarkowski’s high challenge on Alexis Mac Allister, that saw the Everton captain booked, with the PGMOL understood to believe he should have been sent off, Pickford said: “He’s got the ball. I think he went in with more impact than force, but I think he’s apologised to Mac Allister.
“He’s a tough South American. I think he’ll be alright.
“But it’s football. I think 20 years ago, it’s fine but not in this day and age but he’s apologised and I think that’s all he can do.”
Everton’s trip to their table-topping neighbours, is the first of five fixtures in April that also sees them face established Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea plus this season’s surprise package and Champions League hopefuls, Nottingham Forest. Pickford is determined to rise to the challenge though.
He said: “It’s a good test for us now. We were nine unbeaten, it’s about that character now because we’ve tasted defeat against Liverpool, which is never nice for us.
“It’s about how we build and how we go and get a result against Arsenal at Goodison on Saturday. I never take any game in the Premier League for granted, whether you’re at the top of the table or the bottom of the league, you’ve got to be on your A-game as a team.
“We were just a little bit off it here, but I think the hard work and resilience was quality from the lads. We just missed getting the goal.”
The 31-year-old added: “We need to keep that resilience. I think we’ve always had that resilience and that grit and determination to keep the ball out of the net.
“It’s not just from the back four and myself. It’s the full team, putting a shift in, it’s how do we improve that 10% quality with the ball, how do we create more chances.
“We want to become an even better team and to keep pushing, keep learning and getting better as a unit.
“It’s character-building. It’s what you want as a Premier League footballer, having those challenges week-in, week-out, you want to be playing against the top teams.”
WAIT GOES ON:Chris Beesley's video verdict
Liverpool will now be hoping that Everton do them a favour as their closest title challengers Arsenal come to Goodison Park. The Blues only have four more matches remaining at the first purpose-built football ground in England and their home since 1892, but Pickford is eager to take the improvements seen under Moyes – they were unbeaten in nine Premier League fixtures before their last-ever trip across Stanley Park – into their inaugural campaign on the Mersey waterfront.
He said: “They’ve only lost one (Premier League) game all season, but it was a good game and I think we created a few chances. We probably could have created more but I think our resilience as a team was good and we need to build on that because we’ve got a tough few games – this is what the Premier League is all about, playing the best teams.
“It’s about taking them and I was a bit disappointed not to get a goal. As a team, we go back to the training ground, learn from it and work harder.
“Hopefully, we create those kind of chances again come Saturday and we take them this time.”
Pickford added: “We want to get results and get Goodison bouncing on Saturday.
“We enjoy the moment by getting good performances and good results out of the games. That’s our main aim, to keep getting performances, keep getting results.
“Everybody knows, in the football industry, it’s about going home with three points and enjoying Saturday, letting the fans go home and enjoying their weekend. Everton fans live and breathe winning games.
“I’ve been here for eight years now. I know how passionate the fans are and I know how much they care.
“We want to win as much as we can and we want to do it for the fans, we want to do it for ourselves. We want to build that momentum, and take it into next season.”