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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Thomas

What Jordan Pickford did after stunning double Everton save as 'corrupt' banner unfurled

Everton secured one of the biggest wins of the club's season - and of Frank Lampard's managerial career - with a passionate performance against Chelsea.

The players matched the intensity of the supporters to deliver on the pitch on a memorable day at Goodison Park.

Now the dust has settled on a win that kept Everton's destiny in their own hands, here are a few moments you may have missed.

READ MORE: Everton find powerful new weapon as Yerry Mina wind up works wonders

READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel makes Everton crowd admission as Chelsea suffer defeat

Mykolenko miss would have been perfect reward for emerging star

Vitalii Mykolenko has been growing in stature as an Everton player for some time. Full-backs needing time to settle into life in the Premier League is nothing new, and Mykolenko initially struggled as the Blues sought to replace Lucas Digne.

With the invasion of his homeland, that the Ukrainian is able to play any role at all is an inspiration. But he is getting better with every game and now looks comfortable with the pace and physicality of the league.

In the immediate aftermath of Richarlison's winning goal, Mykolenko was played in at the back post by Abdoulaye Doucoure. It was a golden opportunity to double Everton's lead but he slashed it wide. This was a real shame because a goal would have been the perfect reward for his impressive form.

Swaggering Pickford reacts to his own brilliance

Everyone will have seen Jordan Pickford's staggering double save, first from Cesar Azpilicueta then, from the corner that followed, Antonio Rudiger. The stops were pivotal in Everton securing a much-needed win and backed up the banner unfurled in the Gwladys Street before kick-off that declared him as England's number one.

What supporters in the ground may not have noticed is Pickford's celebrations after each save, a Connor McGregor-style swagger to the soundtrack of appreciation from the stands.

Unusual banner follows week of controversy

While we are on the subject of Gwladys Street banners, one that made an appearance on Sunday bore the emblem of the Premier League with the word 'corrupt' written below.

It followed a week dominated by the controversy surrounding the decision not to award Anthony Gordon a penalty in the Merseyside derby.

Could Chelsea captain have been shown a second yellow?

Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta was in the thick of it on Sunday. It was his shot that forced the first of Pickford's stunning saves and he was the defender hunted down by Richarlison and Demarai Gray as they stole the ball for the Everton goal.

After losing the ball, Azpilicueta pulled down Gray, though Gray had managed to prod the ball into Richarlison's path. Having already been booked in the first half, there is an argument the Chelsea defender could have received a second yellow even though his actions did not ultimately prevent a goal.

Everton substitute proves a match for Chelsea star

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was a threat for Chelsea. He spent much of the match drifting beyond Everton's midfield to find pockets of space from which to launch attacks. In one, in the first half, he audaciously spun past Fabian Delph, carried the ball deep into Everton territory and played in Timo Werner.

he introduction of Salomon Rondon meant Everton finally had a player who could match Loftus-Cheek's physicality and in one late move Rondon outmuscled the midfielder to win the ball on the halfway line and start a move he almost finished.

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