When Jordan Pickford tipped over the bar from Willian in a spectacular save at Fulham, it was no fluke.
Coaches had identified the biggest threats posed by Marco Silva’s side and the probability of the right-footed winger cutting inside from the left and shooting had been identified. As a result, preparations had been made.
For days previously, Pickford, Asmir Begovic and Andy Lonergan had taken it in turn to mimic Willian’s approach to goal and the shots that might follow. Pickford was primed.
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That approach is taken week in week out as part of a bespoke regime applied to each opponent. It means one week Begovic might play the role of Mo Salah, or Lonergan that of Erling Haaland as part of efforts to give Pickford the best chance of keeping out the goalscorers they are set to face next.
This is all under the gaze of long-time goalkeeper coach Alan Kelly. Explaining the set up, he said: “I would set out a scenario, say Mo Salah likes to get on his left, then we re-enact it. We will have scenarios - the opposition might have inverted wingers - so a right footer like Willian will come inside off a full-back. So the save that Jordan made against Fulham - we had done that in training. What we are doing is creating a scenario. At Fulham with Willian he can attack on his left shoulder but equally he can step inside, which is exactly what he did. We set a train of thought where in your mind you are going ‘we did this’ so it is like an in-built psychological thing of what to expect. And they all get that, so it doesn’t matter who steps into that role within training. They all get exposed to it.”
When it comes to those sessions, Pickford is said to be the best finisher within the group but Begovic is known as ‘Backstick Bego’ for his headers at the back post. The headline-grabber in gloves for Everton is England number one Pickford, whose career Kelly has nurtured going back to both their stints at Preston North End. But Pickford is as strong as he is because of the unit that surrounds him, Kelly believes. The other two senior professionals include Begovic, who Kelly rates as a “top class pro”, adding: “We're lucky to have somebody with that body of experience and expertise.” Then there is Lonergan, who “is extremely valuable”. Kelly said: “You look at the level of training and the standard that he [Lonergan] sets and you have somebody who produces a standard of performance which drives levels up. It is maintaining a high-level of performance consistently through the goalkeeping department.
“He sets standards in training and he is an absolute diamond of a lad as well, as are Harry Tyrer, Billy Crellin and Joao Virginia. They are good people who set good standards in training, they have good attitudes, good application. That all comes together… I think people like Billy and Andy, they are part of that engine that gets overlooked, that gets unseen by people but which is a major part of how Jordan performs and how Asmir performs. I think that unit that we have got, the respect they have got between each other and the demands they have got - even with their service - they are there to work. It sounds functional but if we’re all kicking the ball over the bar or not putting it in the right place they do not get the work that is required to then go over to the team sessions and perform to the required standard.”
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