It was a difficult evening for Jordan Pickford and his Everton team-mates, and one football pundit wasn't happy with something the England international did against Leeds
LEEDS, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Jordan Pickford of Everton sprays water on his face during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Everton at Elland Road on August 18, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
One football pundit has blasted Jordan Pickford(Image: George Wood, Getty Images)
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O'Hara has urged the Premier League to ban goalkeepers like Jordan Pickford from writing information about opposition players on their water bottles. Prior to Leeds United's contentious winning spot-kick against Everton being taken, the England number one could be spotted glancing at his bottle, which contained the probable placements of each penalty taker.
It's not the first occasion the seasoned shot-stopper has employed this tactic as he notably used the method to great effect when the Three Lions defeated Switzerland on penalties at Euro 2024. On this instance, however, it didn't work out as planned.
Lukas Nmecha's penalty proved too fierce and went beyond his reach, even though he picked right. Daniel Farke's team proceeded to maintain their advantage to clinch a 1-0 triumph at Elland Road.
Despite Pickford's unsuccessful attempt, O'Hara criticised him and stated keepers shouldn't be permitted to have any details about opposition players scrawled on their bottles. Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Wolves star said: "By the way, Jordan Pickford, the water bottle situation, where they have got the penalties [written on it].
"You see him pick his water bottle up, he's obviously got a load of information on there. I'm not having that. I think it needs to be knocked on the head, it needs to be banned, I think you have to ban anything being written on water bottles.
"I think it's unacceptable. The penalty is a 50/50, you against the keeper, but the keeper has all of the information. I don't think it's fair, it's unsportsmanlike, if you're allowed to have all of the water bottles with all of the information written on it - he dives the right way by the way."
Jordan Pickford of Everton's water bottle with information on penalty takers during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Everton at Elland Road on August 18, 2025 in Leeds, England
Pickford's water bottle contains the information of where opposing players will likely shoot their penalty
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His surprising suggestion left co-presenter Jason Cundy baffled, with the former Chelsea midfielder strongly disagreeing with his colleague's view. He replied: "It's research.
"It's what professional goalkeepers do, they have been doing it for years. Every single penalty, you should score. The odds are stacked against the goalkeeper. It's not 50/50. Most penalties are scored."
England Lionesses goalkeeper Hannah Hampton employed the identical tactic during the Euro 2025 final against Spain, though her details were stuck to her arm instead. Beyond having her own notes, the Chelsea shot-stopper went a step further by grabbing Spanish rival Cata Coll's water bottle - which also contained written information - and throwing it into the England supporters.
Jamie O'Hara looking angry speaking on talkSPORT
Jamie O'Hara thinks goalkeepers should not be allowed to have penalty information written on their water bottles
Hampton subsequently stopped penalties from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati, before Chloe Kelly sealed the triumph with a thunderous decisive spot-kick. Revealing her approach, Hampton explained: "The Spanish keeper had it on her bottle, so I thought when she was going in goal I'll just pick it up and throw it into the English fans so she can't have it.
"I never put it on a bottle because anyone can do that, so that is why I put it on my arm, and the TV caught that. It wasn't hard – when she has gone in the goal it is on its own, isn't it? It is in a towel, you just pick it up."
Everton are set to welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Hill Dickinson Stadium in their next match, marking their first Premier League game at their new home. Pickford will undoubtedly have the penalty details of all potential spot-kick takers from Fabian Hurzeler's team on his bottle once more in case it's required.