Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford believes criticism of David de Gea shows just how good his Manchester United counterpart’s form has been this season.
De Gea has made errors in each of United’s past three games, including a 4-0 defeat to Pickford’s Everton at Goodison Park last weekend.
The Spaniard has been outstanding for each of the four seasons prior to this one, making the PFA Team of the Year on each occasion, but was unsurprisingly absent when this campaign’s XI was revealed on Thursday.
“Everyone will have those games,” Pickford said. “I think he [De Gea] is one of the top ‘keepers in the world and I think he’s incredible.
“It’s great to watch him as well when he’s on TV and you just watch how good he is, and from a young age how he’s developed, it’s incredible.
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“You can’t criticise a ‘keeper for one game. I think it just shows how good he’s been all season again.”
The victory over United kept Everton in the hunt to finish as the ‘best of the rest’ in the Premier League, with Marco Silva’s side trailing seventh-placed Wolves by two points with three games remaining.
Highlights from Everton’s 4-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League.
Everton’s resurgence has been built upon an impressive run of home form, which has seen a draw with Liverpool followed by victories over Chelsea, Arsenal and United – all without conceding a goal.
“Our aim was seventh at the start of the season and we had a sticky patch in the mid-block of the season but we’ve turned it around,” Pickford said.
“As a group, as a staff, as a club, seventh’s the best possible finish for us this season and we want to do that as players now.
“Hopefully this little run at the end of the season and the last block is momentum for the next season.”