Jordan Pickford’s ‘intention was to try to reach the ball, not to hurt Virgil van Dijk’, insists Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti has leapt to the defence of Jordan Pickford by insisting his challenge on Virgil van Dijk was not deliberate.

Liverpool centre back Van Dijk damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee following a wild lunge by Everton goalkeeper Pickford during last weekend’s Merseyside’s derby.

The Reds have refused to rule Van Dijk out for the season and have put no specific timescale on his recovery as he prepares to undergo surgery.

Pickford has since been wildly condemned for tackle but Toffees manager Ancelotti says his goalkeeper is ‘really sad’ for the outcome of the incident.

‘To be clear, we are really sorry for the injury of Virgil van Dijk,’ Ancelotti said.

‘Every one of us hopes he can recover soon and well.

‘There was this contact with Jordan Pickford: it was mistimed contact. But the fact the Premier League is so fast, it is not so difficult to arrive a little bit later.

‘Jordan arrived a little bit later but his intention was to try to reach the ball. It was not to hurt Virgil van Dijk.

‘To say it was premeditated, and this and that, in my opinion, is too much. Virgil van Dijk knows this.

‘Jordan is really sad, really disappointed [that Van Dijk is injured]. It was a strong contact, maybe mistimed, but sometimes in football it can happen.’