Pickford's Message To Evertonians & Call To Teammates

Jordan Pickford paid tribute to the thousands of Evertonians who travelled to New Jersey to watch the Blues' Premier League Summer Series opener, while calling on his teammates to show a more ruthless side in their attacking play.

After a strong first-half display, the Toffees suffered a 15 minutes to forget after the interval and were defeated 3-0 by Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series opener at the MetLife Stadium.

David Moyes' side were backed by a strong contingent of vocal supporters, consisting of passionate US-based fans, as well as English-based Blues who made the trip across the Atlantic.

And Pickford says, despite the result, there were some positives to take away – not least another gruelling workout for many of the squad's senior players in extremely hot and humid conditions, as the Blues continue to build their fitness ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League curtain raiser against Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday 18 August.

Speaking afterwards, he told evertontv: "I thought in the first half we were really good. We weren't playing in our usual shape, we've got some injuries and our depth of squad is not very deep at the minute, but it's pre-season and in the first half I thought we were good.

"There was some great play, some great patterns [of play] from the lads. It was one of those that when we get in good areas, can we test the keeper more? When we get those chances, make sure we're making the keeper work and hitting the target. When you do that, it brings a feel-good factor and if you get a goal or two, then the game looks very different. 

"But, yeah, it was a tale of two halves. In the second half, they make a lot of subs, then we haven't got the depth to make those subs yet, so it's a big difference.

"The plus side of it is, in this heat, a lot of the lads have played 90 minutes, so you've got positives and negatives out of it and keep working."

Next up for David Moyes' side is a clash with West Ham United at Soldier Field, the home of NFL side Chicago Bears.

"It's about getting the fitness, getting ready for the first game [of the Premier League season] against Leeds," continued Pickford. "We'll keep working hard. We want to get minutes in, get that sharpness, get the training in and win these games.

"The games are tough out here and the pitches aren't ideal but it is what it is. We're enjoying being together, working and we'll get ready for the next one against West Ham.

"We know there will be a load more Evertonians in Chicago. The Everton section [in New Jersey] was really good, like they always are. It's a great support we've got as a football club and long may that continue but, you know, ideally we want to be giving them wins, even if it is pre-season."