Pickford expects improvements in Everton’s setpiece defending

Everton have been struggling with implementing Marco Silva’s zonal marking defensive system at setpieces, conceding four goals in five games from corners. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, speaking after Saturday’s draw against Huddersfield Town said that he expected improvements in that department as the squad continue to work on implementing the new system in training.

“It doesn’t happen overnight but that is why we train hard every day at USM Finch Farm.

“It will take a bit of time. The manager has come in and wants us to play good football that is easy on the eye. We have got the ability and the capability to do that. We have got to trust ourselves and if we do that, it will make it easier.

“We are frustrated to concede from a set play – hopefully we can sort that out. We have been working hard on them and the gaffer is massive on set plays.

“We have scored a couple of goals from them but we’ll be working hard [defending set plays]. If we can carry on scoring them at one end and start keeping them out at the other, that is how you can win games.”

The Blues have won twice in five games, with three ending in draws - two of them being games the Toffees led away before letting their opponents back into the game.

“We are still unbeaten which is good. But we wanted a win on Saturday and in every game we play. We didn’t get beaten and that is a little positive from the game but we should have taken three points.

“In terms of our home record, we need to be getting three points out of games like that.

“Huddersfield took a different approach when facing us. Normally they have pressed in their first couple of games but against us they have dropped right off. We couldn’t penetrate because there weren’t that many gaps.

“They were hard to break down and it made for a hard day’s work.”