Stoppage time in two Merseyside derbies, separated by four years, a few hundred yards and, for Jordan Pickford, much, much else. In 2018, Virgil van Dijk’s hopeful punt seemed to be heading over the bar. It held up in the Anfield wind, was fumbled by Pickford and Divock Origi pounced for the winner. Fast forward to 2022 and Mohamed Salah eyed a similarly late decider. His shot was arrowing into the corner of the goal. Until Pickford got the finest of touches to push it on to the post. A point was preserved. Pickford had a form of redemption.
But it might not even have been his best save of Saturday’s stalemate; not when a more spectacular stop to turn Darwin Nunez’s half-volley on to the bar is factored in. “There were a few alright ones,” said Pickford with unnecessary modesty. But for a player whose experience of Merseyside derbies involved ignominy and infamy, given the wild tackle that put Van Dijk out of the game and the season in 2020-21, it was a triumphant affair.
