Jordan Pickford kept Everton in the game against Sunderland with a miraculous save in the first half, only for it all to end in tears.

David Moyes’ side took on Sunderland in an FA Cup third-round at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, drawing 1-1 before losing on penalties.

Moyes made big changes to his Everton side, with the Toffees’ bench filled with youth talent.

Moyes will have been looking for his side to show a response after Everton’s 1-1 draw with Wolves in the Premier League last time out, but he didn’t get it.

The Blues were already 1-0 down due to an Enzo Le Fee strike, but things could have been made worse if it wasn’t for Pickford, before James Garner equalised late on.

Jordan Pickford’s heroics blow commentary away

Pickford has been a consistent performer for Everton over the years and will most likely retire at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The English shot-stopper was once again called into action and saved the Blues when Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele fired an acrobatic shot at goal near the end of the first half.

The effort seemed to be creeping into the top right corner, but fortunately for Moyes, his keeper kept Everton in the game heading into the second 45 with a magnificent save.

• Sunderland has eight shots in the first half
• Pickford was forced to make three saves

While speaking live on BBC Radio Merseyside, Mike Hughes and former Everton man Ronny Goodlass both shared their take on Pickford’s save.

Hughes said: “Oof, fantastic save there by Jordan Pickford to deny Mukiele. Pickford just about managed to keep it out, and Sunderland had many bodies in and around the area.”

Goodlass claimed: “It was a fabulous save vs Wolves, Mike, but that one was excellent, that’s really good reflex save there.”

GamesAverage ratingJordan Pickford’s stats for Everton in the Premier League

Water is wet, and as highlighted by Sofascore, Pickford is once again proving to be Moyes’ most important player. But the Everton boss now has another problem to solve.

The defence in front of Pickford has drastically dropped off

Everton’s defence has been the core that Moyes has built off since rejoining the club last season.

However, in recent weeks, his backline has let goals in far too easily, and Pickford has faced more shots than he would have liked to.

In the previous two matches, the Toffees have conceded a total of five goals, and it felt like Sunderland could have got more on Saturday, too.

With the January transfer market open, Moyes has multiple areas he needs to improve, and he simply cannot neglect adding reinforcements to the defence.