Everton have not really had many arguments over the last few Premier League teams of the season, likely because their players were nowhere near that level.
Being embroiled in back-to-back relegation battles will certainly do that for a team, with those on the pitch having been largely to blame for such outstanding regression.
However, things have been different this campaign, and instead of being architects of their own downfall, the Toffees have emerged triumphant.
Only through the Premier League’s persistent punishments have they remained in a battle for survival, and as such this squad deserves plenty of praise.
Jamie Carragher names his Team of the Season
Speaking live on Sky Sports’s Monday Night Football just yesterday, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville sought to debate their picks for their Premier League Team of the Season.
And whilst the latter sought to laud one Everton player, the former actually included him in his squad, naming Jordan Pickford in goal.
However, his selection was only born of a blunder made that very night by his alternative Emi Martinez.
Carragher would note: ‘Martinez’s error cost him his place!
‘It was a toss-up between Martinez and Pickford. Jordan Pickford has the most clean sheets apart from David Raya. For a team battling relegation. How many goals does he create from his free-kicks on the half-way line?
‘You can’t take that mistake out for Martinez. He was at fault for the second one as well!’
Jordan Pickford has been the Premier League’s best goalkeeper
Whilst many might point to Martinez, or even claim that David Raya has been the division’s best shot-stopper, it is simply impossible to overlook the work Pickford has put in.
After all, the difference between those two and the former Sunderland man is stark, as they are starring for Champions League and title-challenging sides, whilst he has been stuck in yet another relegation battle.
However, their struggles in the table have not been born of defensive issues, but instead the Premier League’s PSR punishments and a profligacy in front of goal.
Meanwhile, Pickford has actually amassed the second-most clean sheets in the division whilst conceding the fourth-least too.
What helps him stand out above Raya though, who has the most clean sheets, is how busy they have been.
The Spaniard sits behind a rock-solid defence renowned for being one of the best in Europe. As such, he has faced just 66 shots all season, making 43 saves at a 65% success rate.
Meanwhile, Everton’s 30-year-old goalkeeper has faced 166 shots, and his 70% save success rate frames the 117 stops he has been forced to make.
He is not only the busiest of the three, but retains the best figures too with this added context, and has only made one error leading to a goal compared to Raya’s three.
Pickford has undoubtedly been the best goalkeeper in the division this season.
