Jordan Pickford now joint-second among Dream Team goalkeepers after eighth clean sheet

JORDAN PICKFORD (£3m) has become just the third goalkeeper to reach 100 Dream Team points this season.

Everton’s No1 joined Nick Pope (£4.1m) and Andre Onana (£3.6m) in the exclusive club with a nine-point return against Aston Villa on Sunday.

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In fact, he’s level with his England team-mate on a exactly a century with the Cameroon international top of the tree on 122 points having kept nine clean sheets in all competitions, despite his shaky form at times.

However, with Onana now at the Africa Cup on Nations and Pope sidelined with injury, Pickford is the highest-scoring Dream Team asset in his position among those currently available.

Last weekend’s goalless draw with the Villains was the 29-year-old’s eighth clean sheet in all competitions.

In the Premier League, Pickford leads the race for the Golden Glove with seven clean sheets, one more than his closest competitors, Onana and Alisson (£3.5m).

The Toffees boast one of the better defensive records in the top flight this campaign, they’ve shipped just 28 goals from their 21 league fixtures.

Only the current top four of Liverpool, Villa, Manchester City and Arsenal have conceded fewer league goals at this stage.

Clean sheets remain the primary currency for custodians in the realm of Dream Team but this season’s improved scoring system means saves are a significant factor as well.

Remember, keepers earn one point for every two saves they make per appearance.

Pickford has made 68 saves in total, the seventh-highest tally, which works out at 2.72 per game.

He’s earned 29 points through saves to date.

Pickford’s most recent haul, the nine-pointer at home to Villa, was his joint-best return of the season.

And his owners may be hopeful of more points this evening as Sean Dyche’s side take on low-scoring Crystal Palace in an FA Cup third round replay, although Joao Virginia (£1.6m) did make a rare appearance between the sticks against the Eagles at Selhurst Park so rotation is possible.

Everton face Fulham in Gameweek 21 but Pickford may find substantial points hard to come after that with Tottenham, Man City and Brighton to come (either side of yet another meeting with Palace) between Gameweeks 22 and 25.

Regardless, the stats don’t lie – Pickford is enjoying a fine season.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk