Here are your Everton morning headlines for Monday, 19 October.
Godfrey on derby and the future
Everton new boy Ben Godfrey made his debut for the club on Saturday in the Merseyside derby. Despite being a centre-back by trade, the 22-year-old had to fill in at right-back when Seamus Coleman was forced off through injury.
His new manager was certainly impressed by his performance. Speaking after the game, Carlo Ancelotti said: “Ben was fantastic, we signed him as a centre-back, not a right-back, but he has the quality to play in that position."
Godfrey will be aiming to earn a regular spot at the heart of the Blues’ defence, but he knows that the competition will be tough. But he’s not daunted by the challenge either.
"Every player wants to be in that starting XI but what I do appreciate about this team is that I've got great centre backs to learn so much from," Godfrey said.
See what else he had to say about his debut and the future here .
Olsen set to battle to be number one
It’s safe to say that Jordan Pickford had a mixed afternoon in the 237th Merseyside derby at lunchtime on Saturday.
He produced some excellent saves to deny Liverpool, but was also fortunate to escape punishment for his poor challenge on Virgil van Dijk. Had the visitors’ late goal been allowed, which would surely have won the match, Pickford would’ve also faced severe criticism for failing to stop Jordan Henderson’s shot.
And despite playing every Everton league match since he joined the club, the England goalkeeper now faces competition for his spot from Robin Olsen. The Swede is spending 2020/21 with the Blues, on loan from AS Roma.
Ancelotti has said that Olsen could replace Pickford in the side, as he explained here .
Cahill questions VAR
Many people watching the Merseyside derby on Saturday were questioned why Pickford was not reprimanded for the incident with Van Dijk.
It once again raised questions about what exactly VAR does or doesn’t do, and that was even the case among some Evertonians.
Speaking on Optus Sports, former Blues player Tim Cahill admitted to his own bemusement at the situation.
"The key element is quite alarming. That an individual inside the VAR box can be subjective. There should be [none of that] whatsoever,” he said.
Read what else Cahill, as well as two former referees, had to say on the subject here .
