Exclusive: Pickford sanction update after red card offence in Liverpool v Everton
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford should have been sent off in his side’s Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider however, that it is unlikely that the England international will be retrospectively sanctioned by the FA over his after-the-whistle challenge on Darwin Nunez.
Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night (2 April), ending their nine-game unbeaten run in the Premier League under David Moyes.
A major talking point from the game was the decision not to send off James Tarkowski for his foul on Alexis Mac Allister early in the match.
However, the centre-back is not the only Everton player who appears to have been fortunate to avoid being dismissed during that match.
Everton star Jordan Pickford clashes with Darwin Nunez
With the game in stoppage time and Liverpool holding that one-goal advantage, referee Sam Barrott blew his whistle for a free kick to the hosts inside their own half.
Regardless of whether or not he heard the whistle, Nunez continued to carry the ball forward and into the Everton penalty area, where he then went to ground after a kick from Pickford.
| Everton last five games | Result |
| Man United (H) | Drew 2-2 |
| Brentford (A) | Drew 1-1 |
| Wolves (A) | Drew 1-1 |
| West Ham (H) | Drew 1-1 |
| Liverpool (A) | Lost 1-0 |
That apparent attempted clearance from the goalkeeper caught the man but none of the ball, an incident remiscent of his infamous clash with Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk several years ago.
With a free kick having already been given, Barrott was unable to award a penalty, and while he booked Nunez for what appears to be time-wasting, Pickford received no punishment.
Hackett though believes the Everton goalkeeper was lucky not to be sent off, although he is not expecting retrospective action to be taken against him.
Keith Hackett reacts to further Liverpool vs Everton controversy
After being asked by Football Insider if Pickford should have been sanctioned during the game for that kick on Nunez, and if the goalkeeper could face retrospective action, the former referee said:
“Even though the whistle had been blown to stop play this challenge by Pickford was worthy of a red card.
“Sadly, in a regime at the FA where there is a reluctance to re-referee matches it is unlikely that Pickford will be sanctioned.”
Everton are now 14 points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with eight games still to be played ahead of the visit of Arsenal to Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon (5 April).