Jordan Pickford took part in a wide-ranging festive Q&A where he reflected on Everton's fine form this month, and the clean sheets secured alongside victories. The England No.1 also praised the togetherness throughout the squad and highlighted what he felt was the key reason for the Club's uptick in level of performance. 

Q. Jordan, it’s been a fantastic month generally for Everton, certainly in terms of results. Strikers talk about goals, for goalkeepers, it’s clean sheets. What did four in a row mean to you? 

JP: It’s great as a goalkeeper to get clean sheets. It’s not just me getting them, it’s the lads in front of me working really hard - it’s a team thing. You know if you can limit chances, then we will get opportunities and it’s about taking them. 

That’s how you win games, keeping clean sheets or only allowing the opponent just one goal. It’s a massive part of it and that’s what the manager has brought into this side. A lot of credit goes to the lads who have been working hard, from Dominic (Calvert-Lewin) right down the side. Then, when called upon, I will look to make the saves. 

Q. To that point, there’s been some personnel changes in the backline. What does it say about this group that you can insert players or take them out but defensively you are still pretty tight?

JP: It shows the dedication on the training pitch and how we are working hard. Whenever the manager calls for you, you are ready to take your chance. We are a good group, the togetherness is there. What we are doing on the training pitch is showing what we can do on game day. 

Q. We all know about what happened off the pitch with that sense of adversity. Do you feel like as a group that has brought you closer together?

JP: No, the manager spoke about it and then we parked it. It is about us putting good performances on and making the fans go home happy with a smiles on their faces after the games. There’s nothing better than securing victory as a group of players on a Saturday or whenever the game is. 

Q. There’s been plenty of happy faces across the past four or five games, what do you think has been the biggest change from the first couple of months of the season? 

JP: We’ve stopped giving away sloppy goals.  We are also scoring a lot more goals, like set-pieces, we are strong on them. Lads are coming up with goals now when in those first few games of the season, our performances were there but we just couldn’t get them goals. Then we were conceding sloppy ones. We have ironed it all out, the lads are together and things are happy at the minute. 

Q. How high is confidence in this group right now?

JP: I wouldn’t say it’s a case of high confidence, we just know we are going in the right direction. We are not overconfident, we are staying level and know when we go out there to train, we are ready to give it our best and whatever the manager and his staff put on, we are giving it 100 per cent - that helps up take it out onto the pitch on the weekend. 

Q. Do you feel the team has become mentally stronger as the season has progressed?

JP: Yes, definitely. I think you can see the togetherness is there. People are helping each other and working hard. I think are running stats are very good, so it just shows how much work we’re putting in as a team and as a unit.

Q. Everton play Manchester in your first game after Christmas. They’ve been away in Saudi Arabia at the Club World Cup. There’s been a lot of travelling for them. Does that present an opportunity for you, potentially?

JP: No, I wouldn’t say that. I think Manchester City are used to the Champions League every week and playing three games a week. This might be a little bit different, with two games away in Saudi Arabia. I’d guess they’d have got home before Christmas and had a couple of days to rest, so they’ll be fresh. We’ve got to be at our best because they’re a top side and you don’t win the treble for nothing.

Q. Given the upturn of results at Goodison recently, how much of a factor is that for this game? 

JP: I think away form has been sensational as well. I think our home form could be even better. It’s getting there, but those few results at the start of the season make our Goodison results not as good. We’ve started getting there recently and the atmosphere is rocking again.

Q. Against Manchester City, you don’t want to go into the game fearing them, but you do have to respect them. How do you approach it?

JP: That’s the manager’s job! I know some days I might be busy and some I might not be. We’ll be ready for them.

Q. How much are you enjoying being a part of this team at the moment?

JP: It’s great. With the performances and the wins on the board, it’s a great atmosphere around the building.

Q. Finally, it’s the festive period, so what does Christmas look like in the Pickford household?

JP: Busy but enjoyable. I love Christmas and spending time with my family. My son is four now and he’s well into knowing about Christmas and Santa. He’s been really excited. With our newborn, that’s all a bit easier!