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REUTERS: Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s challenge to Virgil van Dijk was ill-timed rather than malicious and that the reaction to the incident, which left the Dutchman facing a long streak, was overblown.
Premier League champions Liverpool confirmed that Van Dijk will undergo surgery on damaged knee ligaments following a challenge from Pickford during Saturday’s Merseyside derby, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
The England goalkeeper, however, escaped retrospective action on his challenge after the Football Association determined that the incident was seen at the time by match officials, including the video assistant referee (VAR).
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum said the way Pickford met the challenge was “completely stupid” and although the goalkeeper had not set out to deliberately hurt the center-back, “he did not care what happened after the tackle.”
The Everton goalkeeper has also faced a barrage of criticism from experts and from social media, which Ancelotti said had gone too far.
“To be clear, we are very sorry for Virgil van Dijk’s injury,” Ancelotti told the Everton website https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1870855/everton-manager-ancelotti-provides-injury-update-on- James before Sunday’s trip to Southampton.
“There was this contact with Jordan Pickford: it was an inappropriate contact. Jordan arrived a little later but his intention was to try to reach the ball. Not to hurt Virgil van Dijk.
“And after that, the reaction is too much. To say it was premeditated, in my opinion, is too much. Virgil van Dijk knows it. Jordan is really sad, really disappointed (about Van Dijk’s injury). It was a strong contact, Maybe at the wrong time, but sometimes in football it can happen. “
The Italian coach said new signing James Rodriguez, who has scored three league goals so far, will miss the game against the Saints after the Colombian suffered an injury during a Van Dijk challenge at Goodison Park.
Captain Seamus Coleman will be out for two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, while the Toffees, who are Premier League leaders with 13 points, will also lose forward Richarlison, who will serve the first game of a game. three-game penalty for his red card entry to Thiago Alcantara last week.
