Jordan Pickford has a lot to answer for following Everton's 2-2 draw with Liverpool. The Reds were denied an injury time winner when Sadio Mane was adjudged to be offside before Jordan Henderson's strike - but the more concerning refereeing decision came much earlier on. With 37 minutes on the clock, Pickford came off his line to lunge at Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman was actually in an offside position, but he was completely wiped out by the England stopper. If reports from beIN Sports are accurate, it's even more serious than first thought as Van Dijk may have damaged his Anterior Cruciate Ligament and could be ruled out for the rest of the season. What was most baffling was that the Everton goalkeeper was not punished, despite widespread calls for him to be sent off. Piers Morgan even suggested he should be arrested...
Now, that's probably a bit of a stretch Piers, but Pickford certainly should know better.
After all, he has form when it comes to making dangerous sweeping tackles.
Back in December 2018, when Everton played Tottenham at Goodison Park, the 26-year-old was guilty of a similar offence on Dele Alli.
Spurs won the game 6-2, but just before half-time, Alli was injured and had to be taken off at the interval.
Once again, Pickford was not booked because the playmaker had been in an offside position and the whistle had already gone.
At the time, Alan Shearer called it a "disgusting challenge" on social media and said he was "lucky" that Dele didn't react.
Perhaps alluding to the challenge on Dele, former Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason wrote on Twitter that "he has done it before and will do it again!"
He called the tackle on Van Dijk "terrible", adding that it "could end a career".
Jurgen Klopp will be doubly furious with the Toffees given that it wasn't only his centre-back who was put in danger.
New signing Thiago Alcantara, who put in a man-of-the-match display (check out his highlights HERE) also underwent scans in hospital following Richarlison's horror tackle in injury time.
At least the Brazilian was given a straight red.
Regardless of whether he is punished, Pickford needs to start taking responsibility before he damages a fellow professional's career.