MusaAlan Shearer was astonished by Jordan Pickford’s stunning save deep into stoppage time, which earned Everton a dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
The dramatic win saw Everton race into a 2-1 lead by halftime, with goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Beto—either side of Jacob Ramsey’s equaliser. Jacob Murphy briefly restored parity for the hosts before Thierno Barry scrambled home what proved to be the winner. Yet the defining moment arrived in the 94th minute, when Pickford produced a breathtaking reflex save to tip Sandro Tonali’s fierce volley onto the crossbar.
Pickford’s ‘world-class’ moment secures the points
The match swung back and forth throughout, with Everton responding almost instantly on both occasions Newcastle pulled level. As the Magpies pushed desperately for a late equaliser, they were repeatedly repelled—none more crucially than in stoppage time, when Tonali’s venomous strike appeared destined for the net, only for Pickford to intervene.
Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer was full of praise for the Everton shot-stopper.
“That’s a world-class save—absolutely incredible,” Shearer said. “The reactions to get a hand to it and push it onto the bar were just outstanding.”
Shearer also pointed out the stunned reaction of Everton captain James Tarkowski, admitting he felt the same sense of disbelief. “Look at Tarkowski’s face. That was exactly how I felt—completely astonished.”
Where does Pickford rank among Premier League keepers?
Since becoming Everton’s first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the 2017-18 season, Pickford has continued to demonstrate his class week in, week out. At 31, he remains a player his side can rely on for match-winning interventions, as he once again proved at St James’ Park.
Despite conceding twice on Saturday, Pickford has now kept nine clean sheets in the Premier League this season—his most recent in a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa back in January. Only four goalkeepers have recorded more shutouts in the top flight this campaign, with Arsenal’s David Raya leading the way on 13.
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