Here are your Everton FC morning headlines for Monday, October 31.
Tarkowski on red card
James Tarkowski believes Aleksandar Mitrovic could have easily been sent off for his 'mistimed' challenge on Idrissa Gueye.
The major talking point from Saturday's 0-0 draw at Fulham came in the first-half, as Mitrovic seemed to stamp down on Gueye's ankle but escaped with just a yellow card. The ECHO understands that the tackle was checked by VAR at Stockley Park, but it was decided that the challenge was low and came from a short distance so lacked intensity and impact.
READ MORE: Frank Lampard facing Everton midfield conundrum as Nathan Patterson question emerges
Speaking after the game, Blue boss Frank Lampard claimed the Serbian striker should have been sent for an early bath. And Tarkowski has echoed his manager's thoughts, adding that a red card would not have been overturned, had it been given.
He said: “I didn’t see it too much, but I have just saw a replay back. You have seen reds for them and I think it is one of them, touch and go, Gana has stretched out and it is mistimed You have seen red cards for tackles like that. I think it is one of them, if the ref gives a red it won’t get changed.”
Key Pickford influence
Frank Lampard highlighted the role of goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly in helping "complete" goalkeeper Jordan Pickford emerge as a leader in the Everton dressing room.
Pickford is having an excellent impact on and off the pitch at Goodison Park, emerging as a leader within the dressing room and taking the armband for the first portion of the season with club captain Seamus Coleman sidelined. The former Sunderland keeper has often been the subject of intense scrutiny as critics question his England credentials and rivals see him as susceptible to being wound up.
Asked why he believed Pickford, currently in talks over a new Everton contract, was continuing to make such progress, he explained: "I think it has come naturally. I have worked closely with him. Alan Kelly, our goalkeeping coach, is fantastic, he is a really good sounding board for him and through the work he delivers for him. Keepers are always much closer to the goalkeeping coach so I must give Alan credit on that front. When you speak with people around the training ground and Everton I think there is a real sense of Jordan taking on board maturity.
"He's a leader in the group without a doubt. I think there is a calmness in his game. I didn't know him before [I arrived at Everton] and now I have worked with him I see there is a calmness and a confidence in himself and that means he can affect other people around him positively, which is a huge plus as a goalkeeper. I think fair play to Jordan, he's still relatively young as a goalkeeper so I think it's a big plus and at the minute he is very, very complete in terms of his game."
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