Why Jordan Pickford won’t be emulating Merseyside rival Alisson anytime soon

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is trying to avoid being the next number one to make a high-profile error by cutting out the ‘tricks’.

Sweeper keepers have become common-place in the Premier League this season, with the likes of Alisson at Liverpool and Ederson at Manchester City revolutionising the way goalkeepers play.

However, as much as it can look good on the eye and reap huge benefits for the team, it is a risky approach and Alisson himself has already been caught out.

But Pickford is aiming to use ‘game management’ to make sure he doesn’t become the latest victim to the comedy highlights reel.

“I try not to do tricks because I don’t want to be caught with it. It’s a risk,” he said (via the Telegraph).

“It’s a style of play and I think that’s the way Liverpool want to play as well. You’ve got to accept where mistakes will happen and it’s about not making the next one.

“It’s all about managing the game and not making it again in the same game I’d say. Look at Ederson at City, Guardiola puts a lot of faith in him doing it and mistakes happen all over the pitch – the goalkeeper mistake is always a crucial one or gets talked about a lot.

“For me, I’m going to try not to put myself in that position to make those mistakes. You don’t want to get too comfortable if you’re winning and start trying to be a No 10 player.”

Arsenal’s Petr Cech is one goalkeeper who has particularly struggled with the footballing demands placed on him by the new Gunners boss Unai Emery and has made a series of high-profile errors with the ball this season.

This has led to many Arsenal fans calling for £19 million goalkeeper Bernd Leno, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, to be given a chance.

But Pickford, 24, has backed Cech, hailing him as the ‘most consistent goalkeeper’ over the past decade.

He added: “Petr Cech has been a top keeper in the Premier League for the last 10-12 years.

“When you’re growing up you see him making these saves week in week out. He’s probably been the most consistent goalkeeper in these last 10 years in the Premier League, so you can’t give him too much criticism. I’m certainly not giving him any, I think he’s a great goalkeeper and someone you look up to.”

Pickford was in goal for England’s 2-1 Uefa Nations League defeat to Spain on Saturday night, the Three Lions’ next game is a friendly against Switzerland on Tuesday.

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