Jordan Pickford points as Everton lose vs Leeds. David Moyes looks on in a circle.
(Credit: BBC Sport/Imago)
Danny Wright
Wed 20 August 2025 7:40, UK
James Tarkowski’s ‘handball’ wasn’t the only talking point from Leeds’ controversial 1-0 win over Everton on Monday night.
Lukas Nmecha’s 84th-minute penalty won Leeds all three points against David Moyes’ Everton in their opening Premier League matches at Elland Road.
It came after Everton defender Tarkowski was alleged to have handled the ball, even though he had his arm tucked behind his back as he tried to block a shot at goal.
Jordan Pickford wasn’t able to stop Nmecha’s resulting spot-kick, even though he did his best to get one-up on the Leeds debutant.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford running with his water bottle in hand
(Credit: Imago)
This article contains exclusive quotes from former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett.
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Jordan Pickford’s cheat sheet creates new talking point despite Everton loss
Jamie O’Hara has hit out at goalkeepers like Pickford for writing data on their water bottles that could help them save penalties.
Before Nmecha’s spot-kick, the Blues goalkeeper consulted his bottle, which told him the most likely direction the Leeds forward would strike the ball.
Pickford did go the correct way – however, Nmecha’s effort had too much pace and was tucked perfectly into the bottom corner.
O’Hara on water bottle ‘cheat sheets’: “I think that needs to be knocked on the head, I think it has got to be banned.”
England Women goalkeeper Hannah Hampton recently revealed she threw Cata Coll’s water bottle into the crowd in their penalty shoot-out win v Spain.
Ex-Premier League and FIFA-listed referee Keith Hackett believes the International Football Association Board (IFAB), who manage football laws, could look to outlaw goalkeepers taking information onto the pitch to give them an upper hand at saving penalties.
Although it didn’t work for Everton No 1 Pickford on this occasion, Hackett thinks it’s time for the rulemakers to look into it.
“The placing of data on drinks bottles regarding the opposition penalty takers is now becoming a regular occurrence in the game,” Hackett told Goodison News.
“Currently, there is nothing in the laws of the game that prevent this.
Pickford’s stats vs Leeds
Saves 2
Goals prevented 0.07
Punches 1
Clearances 3
High claims 1
Stats by Sofascore.
“Pickford is not alone. We witnessed the England Women’s goalkeeper (Hampton) looking at her drinks bottles prior to their penalty shoot-out win versus Spain.
“Even with the data, the cat and mouse approach when taking penalties continues, and goalkeepers, even with the data still fail to make saves.
“It is up to the lawmakers, the IFAB, if any change in law on this action is taken.
“I feel something needs to be done.”
Jordan Pickford’s penalty-saving record
Pickford made his 320th Everton appearance on Monday night as the Merseysiders lost by a single goal against Leeds.
The England international became one of the best goalkeepers Evertonians had seen at Goodison Park in recent decades, almost single-handedly keeping the Blues in the Premier League under the latter years of Farhad Moshiri’s controversial ownership.
Since joining the Toffees from Sunderland in 2017, Pickford has faced 38 penalties in club colours.
Pickford has made 320 appearances for Everton.
The 31-year-old has conceded 447 goals.
He’s also kept 89 clean sheets.
He’s saved eight of those, most recently against Erling Haaland on Boxing Day last year when Everton drew 1-1 with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Matt Ritchie (Newcastle), James Maddison (Leicester) and Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) have also seen spot-kicks saved by Everton’s Pickford.
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