ESPN journalist Julien Laurens has claimed that Jordan Pickford should have been suspended for the entirety of Virgil van Dijk’s injury absence.
Van Dijk suffered a possible season-ending injury in last weekend’s 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Everton at Goodison Park, damaging his cruciate ligament.
The injury occurred after a shocking tackle from Pickford, who launched recklessly into the Reds defender feet first.
Speaking on ‘The Gab and Juls Podcast’, Laurens said he thinks the Everton goalkeeper should be suspended until Van Dijk is back in the fold at some point next year:
@LaurensJulien believes Jordan Pickford should be banned for as long as Virgil van Dijk is out injured. pic.twitter.com/vGVatrorkz
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 19, 2020
Read Liverpool Verdict
I thought Pickford’s tackle was a disgrace, and the fact that he has avoided any sort of punishment, and wasn’t even sent-off at the time, is impossible to comprehend.
Having said that, I think Laurens is going too far with his idea and it sounds hyperbolic and would be too harsh a punishment.
I don’t believe Pickford was actively trying to hurt Van Dijk, and end his season – it was just stupidly reckless and worthy of a three-game ban.
Unfortunately, serious injuries happen in football and Van Dijk has suffered rotten luck with this setback. Pickford shouldn’t not play for many months because of it, though.
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