Everton blasted ITV pundit Lee Dixon after his ‘disrespectful’ comments on Toffees goalkeeper Joran Pickford during England’s World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
Pickford kept another clean sheet for his country on Tuesday night in Riga as the Three Lions eased to a 5-0 victory that secured their place at next summer’s World Cup.
Former Arsenal defender Dixon was beside Sam Matterface on commentary duty for ITV, questioning why Pickford still plays for Everton having served as England’s first choice for his country for over seven years.
The former defender pondered why the former Sunderland shot stopper had not moved onto a ‘bigger club’ – comments that provoked a furious reaction from Everton.
In a tweet tagging Dixon, the Merseyside club wrote: ‘9 top-flight titles, 5 FA Cups, 1 European title, one of football’s most passionate fanbases, a world-class new stadium, Everton FC – a big club: past, present & future.’
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Dixon’s comments were widely condemned on social media with one fan writing: ‘Lee Dixon speaking as if Everton are a small club. Disrespectful to a massive football club.’
Another wrote: ‘Nice for Lee Dixon to finally give Pickford some praise… Just a shame it came in the same breath as basically saying he should leave.’
‘Lee Dixon implying Everton aren’t a massive club and Pickford needs to leave is exactly why ITV needs Tyldesley and McCoist back,’ one particularly frustrated viewer said with another adding: ‘Pundits hate the fact Jordan Pickford plays for Everton and not one of the Sky six, don’t they.’
Pickford was making his 80th appearance for England on Tuesday night and is poised to sign a new contract at Everton.
The 31-year-old joined the Toffees in 2017 for £30m, a British record fee for a goalkeeper at the time.
‘Obviously everyone knows how happy I am at Everton but I’m not going to go too much into it.
‘I’ve got my England head on for the next two days,’ Pickford said this week.
‘I just want to get the qualification, get the win tomorrow and hopefully get another cap and hit number 80. That’s my sole focus at the minute.’