Here are your Everton evening headlines for Thursday, December 15.
Everton vs Man Utd
Everton stepped up their Premier League preparations with a 1-1 friendly draw against Manchester United on Wednesday.
The pair, who will meet in the FA Cup third round in January, were involved in a behind closed doors training match at the Red Devils' Carrington training base. The work out was part of efforts to build on fitness after senior players were given a short break following the games in Australia last month and while the World Cup continued.
Details of the fixture and who was involved are limited with both clubs viewing the event as an extension of training rather than a friendly, but multiple sources have confirmed to the ECHO they were involved in a training exercise yesterday.
That such an exercise took place comes as little surprise as Frank Lampard had confirmed last month that the Blues were looking to set up behind closed doors games during the final days of the World Cup break. The ECHO understands at least one more similar exercise has been arranged for Everton's senior squad.
Jordan Pickford criticism
It didn’t take long for the usual, and in this case, the unusual suspects to emerge from under their rocks.
No sooner had the full-time whistle blown at the Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday night, the blame game had begun. England were out of the World Cup and Jordan Pickford was back in the firing line.
So often the target of unjustified jibes, the Everton goalkeeper was again on the wrong end of uncalled verbal attacks following his side’s 2-1 defeat to France.
We’ve heard it all before, of course. He’s not as good as he thinks he is and he should not be England’s No.1. Both claims are, of course, completely untrue. But the fact so many, including well respected people from within the game, were quick to jump on Pickford leaves more questions than answers.
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