Everton’s Pickford Uses Water Bottle for Penalty Tips
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Everton Goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford attracted media attention in his team’s 2-0 defeat against Liverpool on Monday. The England international caught people’s eye not because of his failure to keep a clean sheet but because of his unique water bottle.
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Pickford Use Water Bottle for Penalty Stopping Tips Against Liverpool
Aside from quenching Pickford’s thirst, the keeper’s bottle apparently has another function, which is giving him important information about Liverpool players’ penalty stats and habits.
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The data and stats were shown for four potential penalty takers, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, James Milner, and Cody Gakpo. The information data basically gives tips on which direction should Pickford goes to save any spot kicks from them.
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Interestingly, four of those players apparently more than often like to place their spot kicks on the left side of the goal. There are also additional tips such as check run up for Salah and Milner, wait right for Nunez, and also gk left for Gakpo.
Unfortunately, those stats were useless in that game as The Reds grabbed all three points without scoring any goals from the spot kick with Salah and Gakpo getting on the scoresheet.
Pickford Also Uses Bottle for Penalty Tips With England National Team
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However, it’s not a unique habit from Pickford as he has done it several times before either with Everton or England national team. For the Toffees, in 2021, the keeper also had a similar set of notes for some of West Ham players.
Meanwhile, for the Three Lions, Pickford was also seen using that penalty tips in the 2018 World during England’s clash against Colombia and also in their UEFA Nations League game versus Croatia.
Another goalkeeper who has used a similar tactic that the Everton keeper did was Norwich and Dutch, Goalie, Tim Krul. He was spotted using a water bottle during his team’s FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur which ended in The Canaries' victory via penalty shootout.
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What do you think of Pickford using a water bottle to help him guess opponents’ penalties? Share your comment below.
Como 1907 Announce Kit Design Contest
Italian club Como 1907 has launched a new design contest, inviting fans and designers to create a new look for the team. While the official announcement asked supporters to design a t-shirt for Como, it is likely that the club is referring to a football kit, given the context of the post and the reactions from the fanbase.
The club has kept the instructions incredibly open, stating there is no brief, no rules, and no excuses. To enter the competition, fans simply need to create their design, post it on Instagram, and tag the official Como 1907 account.
The announcement has already sparked significant interest online, with numerous supporters sharing their concepts and ideas. Whether the winning design will be produced as an official match kit, a pre-match shirt, or a special edition lifestyle item remains to be seen, but it offers a unique opportunity for fans to leave their mark on the club's visual identity.
FIFA Denies Guillermo Ochoa 2026 World Cup Legacy Patch Over Appearance Rules
Guillermo Ochoa has been denied the chance to wear FIFA's new legacy patch at the 2026 World Cup. Despite being selected for six World Cup tournaments spanning from 2006 to 2026, the Mexican goalkeeper does not meet the strict criteria set by FIFA. The governing body requires players to have made on-pitch appearances in at least five different World Cups to qualify for the special badge.
Ochoa did not play any minutes during the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, meaning he has only registered on-pitch appearances in three World Cups prior to the 2026 edition. Because of this, FIFA officially refused to award him the patch. Other veterans playing in the tournament, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Manuel Neuer, and Yuto Nagatomo, have received the legacy patch for meeting the five-tournament appearance threshold.
The Mexican Football Federation is reportedly planning to push for a reconsideration of the ruling. If Ochoa features in a match during the 2026 tournament, the federation intends to appeal FIFA's decision in hopes of securing the legacy patch for the veteran goalkeeper.
Yokohama FC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Japanese J2 League club Yokohama FC have officially released their new Puma 2026-27 home, away, and goalkeeper kits. The new Yokohama FC 26-27 shirts feature an abstract graphic design that represents flow and movement across all the jerseys. The home jersey is predominantly blue, while the away kit is white. The goalkeeper kits complete the collection in red and yellow colorways. The Puma Yokohama FC 2026-27 kits are available to purchase via the club's online store.
Barry Town United 26-27 Kits Released
Welsh Cymru Premier side Barry Town United AFC have officially unveiled their new Macron kits for the 2026-27 season. Produced by the Italian sportswear brand, the newly released collection features bespoke designs tailored for the club's upcoming campaign. Fans looking to purchase the new shirts can currently find them available exclusively at the Macron Sports Hub Cardiff store.