Jordan Pickford has declared that Everton should be capable of going out and performing in the Premier League whoever is in their side - as he told his team-mates not to panic as they look for their first win in over two months at Brentford.
With the Blues’ six-match run without victory spanning over two international breaks, you have to go back to September 25 for their last three points to date, at home to Norwich City.
That sequence culminated with a sorry showing at the Etihad on Sunday where Rafa Benitez’s side were outclassed by reigning champions Manchester City in a 3-0 defeat.
It wasn’t just the margin of the scoreline that hurt many Evertonians, though, but the meekness in which they surrendered.
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The spine of Everton’s team has been ripped out through injuries to striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure and centre-back Yerry Mina, but England number one Pickford believes their replacements should also be up to the task.
He told the club’s website : “We are all Premier League players and all have the quality.
“We have had a few injuries but people get an opportunity to come in and we all have to take those opportunities.
“We are all capable of playing and when the manager picks his XI we have to perform.
“You know you are up against it at City, they are a top side and won the title and reached the Champions League final last season.
“We conceded three, which we were not happy about, and didn’t convert our counter-attacking opportunities, or get a shot on target to hurt [City goalkeeper] Ederson.
“The manager sets you up every week and you trust that plan and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
“We have to move forward, let the dust settle and work hard all week.
“We need to be calm and refresh for Brentford on Sunday.”
