KEEPER IS BLUES' BIGGEST ASSET

TO be fair, it is sometimes hard to know whether or not Jordan Pickford is deliberately pulling a funny face.

- ANDY DUNN

The England keeper is permanently animated.

But his pre-penalty antics in Everton's draw at the Etihad had their roots in old-school gamesmanship. Sticking a tongue out at your spot-kick adversary is hardly sophisticated mind games but, then again, nothing too cerebral is needed to distract Erling Haaland nowadays.

And, in truth, had Pickford been wearing a cap, he could have thrown it on Haaland's lamentable effort from 12 yards. Had Pickford gone the wrong way, Haaland's penalty might just about have made it to the back of the net.

The Norwegian's tame effort was the perfect emblem of the malaise that has taken hold of the Premier League champions in the past two months.

But it was a moment that Pickford (congratulated by his Blues team-mates, top) could rightly savour.