December 25, 2024

Nick Pope vs Jordan Pickford and Dominic Calvert-Lewin strikes again: What did Gareth Southgate learn from Everton draw at Burnley?

Pickford #Pickford

There were no fans in attendance for the 1-1 draw between Everton and Burnley, but there was one very keen onlooker in the stands.

Gareth Southgate watched on with avid interest as Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck his 11th goal in as many Premier League games to cancel out Robbie Brady’s early strike for the Clarets.

Calvert-Lewin is the Premier League’s top goalscorer

AFP

Calvert-Lewin is the Premier League’s top goalscorer

There was plenty for Southgate to learn

AFP

There was plenty for Southgate to learn

And that wasn’t the only sub-plot as the points were shared at Turf Moor.

The two men battling it out for England’s No. 1 spot at next summer’s delayed Euro 2020 both played crucial roles in keeping things all square.

Jordan Pickford, Southgate’s current first-choice, pulled off two excellent saves, although questions will linger after Brady’s opener.

The Irishman’s strike was nowhere near the corner and, while the fault was with Allan who got dispossessed, Pickford was alarmingly nowhere near it.

Pickford’s usually reliable distribution was off on Saturday, too, but all of that will be forgotten thanks to those two fantastic saves.

Pickford made two excellent stops

AFP

Pickford made two excellent stops

At the other end, the man most likely to usurp Pickford was also in fine form as Southgate watched on.

Pope produced a brilliant stop from Calvert-Lewin in the first-half, a stunning full-stretch save from James Rodriguez in the second, and then rescued a point for Burnley by keeping Gylfi Sigurdsson out in stoppage time.

So what would Southgate have learned from the game? Probably that he’s got two extraordinary strikers in Harry Kane and Calvert-Lewin, and two very good options in goal.

Calvert-Lewin will never oust Kane, no matter how well he plays, but Pope might be coming for Pickford’s shirt based on today’s events.

Pope was the reason Burnley got a point

AFP

Pope was the reason Burnley got a point

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