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 one other clean sheet for his country on Tuesday night in Riga because 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 alternative for his country for over seven years.
The previous defender pondered why the previous Sunderland shot stopper had not moved onto a ‘greater club’ – comments that provoked a furious response from Everton.
In a tweet tagging Dixon, the Merseyside club wrote: ‘9 top-flight titles, 5 FA Cups, 1 European title, one among football’s most passionate fanbases, a world-class recent stadium, Everton FC – an enormous club: past, present & future.’
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 large football club.’
One other wrote: ‘Nice for Lee Dixon to finally give Pickford some praise… Only a shame it got here in the identical breath as principally saying he should leave.’
‘Lee Dixon implying Everton aren’t a large club and Pickford needs to go away is strictly why ITV needs Tyldesley and McCoist back,’ one particularly frustrated viewer said with one other adding: ‘Pundits hate the very fact Jordan Pickford plays for Everton and never one among the Sky six, don’t they.’
Pickford was making his eightieth appearance for England on Tuesday night and is poised to sign a brand new contract at Everton.
The 31-year-old joined the Toffees in 2017 for £30m, a British record fee for a goalkeeper on the time.
‘Obviously everyone knows how blissful I’m at Everton but I’m not going to go an excessive amount of into it.
‘I’ve got my England head on for the following two days,’ Pickford said this week.
‘I just wish to get the qualification, get the win tomorrow and hopefully get one other cap and hit number 80. That’s my sole focus on the minute.’
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