ENGLAND players have reportedly been amused by Jordan Pickford’s mind games which helped him save James Maddison’s penalty.
The England keeper saved his compatriot’s spot kick in a close fought battle that wound up finishing 2-2 between Leicester and Everton.
Maddison was unable to get the better of the keeper after trying to slot his penalty straight down the middle.
Pickford used a water bottle that revealed that Maddison directs 60 percent of his penalties in the centre and the Everton keeper held his nerve by choosing not to move.
The Athletic have reported this wasn’t the only factor in Maddison’s inability to covert from 12-yards.
Pickford had previously planted a seed of doubt in the 26-year-old’s head as well during the World Cup.
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It’s suggested that Maddison asked the Toffee’s shot-stopper where goalkeepers don’t like outfielders to put their penalties to which Pickford answered that many keepers don’t like it going down the middle.
The 28-year-old keeper supposedly explained that this was because most goalkeepers feel that they need to dive one way or the other.
This has reportedly amused plenty of the England players who think that Pickford managed to get the better of Maddison by telling him this information.
Pickford was interviewed after the 2-2 draw and admitted that Maddison would’ve expected him to dive.
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He said: “Madders, he needs to learn his lesson. I did my homework. I called it this morning where I would go.
“He is a good player and he would’ve expected me to dive but I double-bluffed him and got one up on him.”
Both Everton and Leicester find themselves embroiled in a relegation scrap as they fight for survival with just a handful of games remaining.
The penalty save could play a crucial role in who stays in the Premier League with only one point separating to the two teams as things stand.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
