WEEPERS KEEPERS
More questions raised over De Gea and Pickford’s futures as howlers gift goals at both ends of pitch RATINGS
IT WAS a tale of failure and redemption, controversy and justice and, ultimately, one of two goalkeepers.
An afternoon when both David De Gea and Jordan Pickford showed their troubling inconsistency, which has seen the pair face serious questions about their position.
Both produced howlers to gift the opposition goals, before finding some atoning answers in a dramatic finale when VAR again overruled the on-field officials to deny Everton a stoppage timewinner. That was the pivotal, defining moment of the game.
With seconds left, Manchester United’s De Gea produced a stunning save from Gylfi Sigurdsson that reminded everyone, for all the recent criticism aimed his way, he still has a “world-class” talent, as his manager said afterwards.
But with United slow to clear, and Sigurdsson remaining on the turf in front of the keeper when he could easily have got onside, Dominic Calvert-lewin’s rebound shot deflected off Harry Maguire, wrong-footing De Gea.
Initially, the officials seemed happy, but after a consultation between ref Chris Kavanagh and his assistant Constantine Hatzidakis, and an intervention from VAR judge Jon Moss, the goal was disallowed because the Everton player was deemed to be ‘interfering’. Cue pandemonium. At the end,
Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti ran on to the pitch to demand an explanation and was shown a red card. And there is some merit in the Italian’s assertion, too, that De Gea was hardly unsighted and would never have saved after the deflection.
It was perhaps a let off for the keeper, who will surely be under serious threat for the first time in his Old Trafford career when Dean Henderson returns from his loan at Sheffield United this summer.
His mistake in the third minute, gifting Calvert-lewin an opening goal, was a shocking misjudgement that had former United skipper Roy Keane suggesting he would be ready to chin the keeper in the dressing room at half-time.
As the Spain No.1 dallied stupidly on the ball, the Everton striker closed him down, stuck out a leg... and diverted the clearance into the net to the astonishment of just about everyone in the ground.
But Everton’s Pickford managed to produce a bad mistake of his own to help United back into the game.
The Blues had almost scored again soon after their opening goal when De Gea saved from the marauding Calvert-lewin.
But inspired by the brilliance of new-boy Bruno Fernandes, United slowly turned the screw with some thrilling counterattacking football. Everton had appeared to ride the storm, only for the Portugal forward to cut inside from the right to hit a swerving, dipping shot.
Pickford seemed to have it covered, but fatally allowed it to slip through his arms. Cue more jibes from opposition fans about the length of them.
Ancelotti said: “For me the keeper has to save.” But there was redemption too for the England star, who made a fine double stop as the game slipped towards second-half stoppage-time, from Fernandes and sub Odion Ighalo.
Both keepers’ form, though, is put into stark perspective by the statistic they top the list in the past two seasons for most mistakes leading to a goal. Both were helpless when first Nemanja Matic hit the bar, and then Sigurdsson did the same.
United were the better side in the first half, but disappeared. Everton started well, flatlined, but created most of the second-half chances, with Calvert-lewin doing the No.9 shirt proud in front of England boss Gareth Southgate.
On a day when Everton recognised the March 1 date when their all-time greatest forward Dixie Dean died in 1980 at this stadium, it was a poignant reminder of the job Ancelotti has done in making the striker the highest scorer in the Premier League since he took charge on December 21. mirror.co.uk/sport/football
Lots of energy and a bit of that Blues fighting spirit too – promising
Unlucky not to score with free-kick that hit the post
Threw himself around a bit too much but could have scored just on half-time
Showed great awareness for opening goal, surely now an England shout?
(Coleman 28) (Walcott 63) (Gomes 82)