Bodyguards have been hired to protect Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and his family after they have been receiving death threats.
It all started the other weekend when admitting that he intended to put in a strong challenge on Virgil van Dijk during Merseyside derby draw with Liverpool.
On the 17th of October, the Dutch centre-back was substituted in the sixth minute of the Premier League clash after a challenge from Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
On the following day, it was announced that he had suffered an ACL injury in his right knee and would undergo surgery. Because of this, Van Dijk is now expected to be out from six to twelve months.
He escape any kind of punishment, yep, not a single card was given for it, so Pickford came under fire from critics including Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
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Asked if he had watched back the incident, Klopp said: ‘No, only the first moment, in the game, that was pretty quick. For me it was a clear penalty, what I saw.
‘And then obviously we saw that the flag went up, so offside, I still thought it was worth to have a look on the foul but that didn’t happen. We have no power there. We’re just here, you discuss it with me, we have to ask other people about that, not me.
‘It was a… what can I say? Find the word… I don’t want to say Jordan Pickford wanted to do it but it is of course not a challenge how a goalie can do it in the box because there is another player.
‘If it’s not offside, it is 100% penalty. And so it’s nothing.’
He had also told BT Sport: ‘I didn’t see it back but it took a while, obviously it was not too big the offside and then Pickford kicks him completely out of the game.’
Pickford has since been sent a huge number of online threats and abuse, and now he’s forced to protect loved ones.
A source has said to Sportsmail: ‘Jordan has been shocked by the level of abuse he has received since the match. He is determined to do whatever it takes to make sure his family is kept safe.’
The report adds that the England international has asked a specialist security firm to step in.
Just last week, bodyguards were spotted outside of his home in Cheshire, worth £2.5million, where he lives with his wife along with their one-year-old son.
Security experts are advising the family to keep away from their social media in case they alert people as to their whereabouts.
Liverpool fans outside Jordan Pickford’s house after hearing news about Virgil van Dijk’s injury pic.twitter.com/rlkGrLgXkY
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) October 19, 2020
Merseyside Police also revealed recently that they were investigating tweets aimed at Pickford and his Evertonian team-mate Richarlison, who ended up getting a red card during the derby for a challenge on made on Thiago Alcântara.
Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti has apologised for Pickford’s horror challenge on Virgil van Dijk but says keeper’s critics are WRONG, which has left him ‘really sad’ and claims: ‘Saying it is pre-meditated is too much’.
“To be clear, we are really sorry for the injury of Virgil van Dijk. Every one of us hopes he can recover soon and well,” Ancelotti said. vThere was this contact with Jordan Pickford: it was mistimed contact but the fact the Premier League is so fast, it is not so difficult to arrive a little bit later.
“It can happen. He arrived a little bit late but his intention was to try to catch the ball. It was not to hurt Virgil van Dijk. To say it was pre-meditated and this and that, in my opinion, is too much. Virgil van Dijk knows this. This is football and unfortunately you can be injured.
“Jordan is really sad and really disappointed Van Dijk is injured but to say it was pre-meditated, it was stupid, is not fair. It was a strong contact — maybe mistimed — but sometimes in football it can happen.”
Pickford spoke to Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson on his regret but at the time was yet to get back to Van Dijk with an apology.
Jamie Carragher sent a message to the ‘idiots’ on social media targeting Everton’s Jordan Pickford.
He wrote: “As for the idiots on social media targeting Pickford or Richarlison, they are no more representative of Liverpool’s fanbase as those Evertonians who abused Wales’ Neil Taylor when he broke Seamus Coleman’s leg during an international in 2017, or Heung-Min Son after Andre Gomes suffered a year ago. Tellingly, the classiest responses after those incidents came from Coleman and Gomes.”
On Pickford’s challenge, he added: “Pickford did what I did against Nani [back in 2011]. His initial movement was towards the ball, unaware of the man.
“When he realised he was too late and out of position, he panicked, lost control and dived in. These were the actions of a player whose head is all over the place.
“It has been for a while. Currently, every time Pickford makes a critical decision on the pitch, more often than not it turns out to be the wrong one. That one had serious repercussions for [Van Dijk].
“These are the horrendous situations we must occasionally deal with in the game. Bad injuries are an occupational hazard. As professionals, there are demands upon us from coaching staff and fans to never shirk a tackle – especially in a derby.
“I can assure you, when we do so our main concern is being aggressive to look after ourselves and help our team, not cause injury.”
There was plenty of reaction after hearing that bodyguards are hired to protect Jordan Pickford and his family…
Don’t get me wrong that tackle was extremely poor and I wish VVD a quick recovery but it’s football and there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed and this is in those lines.
— Haaanz? (@UtdHaaanz) October 28, 2020
Bad tackle but you are justifying their actions. I doubt he meant to injure him. It was rash and done off instinct. It’s up to the ref to give sufficient punishment not for fans. If it doesn’t happen on the pitch everyone needs to move on.
— Darren Daly (@DarrenDaly23) October 28, 2020
It’s always the Liverpool fans. Classy as always. Example for all!
— ♛ (@PreXcg_777) October 28, 2020
Nothing will be mentioned of Pickford’s mental health though I’m sure
— Andrew Burns (@BurnsA1997) October 27, 2020
Knowing how Liverpool fans behave, for their own club to antagonise them and encourage this type of thing is disgraceful.
Another apology owed from Liverpool FC.
— Mathew (@Mightymj1) October 27, 2020
— Rob (@rob150856) October 27, 2020
Steven Gerrard has to do the same after his transfer request. Sad stuff.
— #Havertz-Daily (@EmenaIo) October 27, 2020
At least? It’s only a game. Liverpool’s fanbase is disgusting end of.
— Harvey Dent (@FootyLannister) October 28, 2020
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