Liverpool ignored calls to sign Pickford before he became £30m Everton star

Liverpool’s goalkeeping issues could have been avoided had they heeded the advice of Chris Kirkland to snap up a promising Jordan Pickford in 2015.

Stability between the sticks has been an issue for the Reds in recent years, with Simon Mignolet having struggled to convince despite making close to 200 appearances.

He has shared starting duties with Loris Karius in the last two campaigns, but the German has also proved to be error-prone – with a dismal showing in the 2018 Champions League final still fresh in the memory of those at Anfield.

It is expected that moves will be made for a new No. 1 this summer, but England’s first-choice at the World Cup could have been on their books rather than that of Merseyside rivals Everton had calls from a former custodian not been ignored.

Kirkland, who spent five years at Anfield and the 2015-16 campaign alongside Pickford at Preston, told talkSPORT: “I tried to get Liverpool to sign Jordan two or three years ago when I was at Preston with him.

“I was raving about him to the Liverpool staff, saying ‘this lad is the best I’ve worked with’.

“I told them he is going to be something special – but not many people take notice of me to be honest!

“Unfortunately they didn’t get him and Everton have got, for me, a steal even at £30 million.”

Pickford became the most expensive British goalkeeper of all time when leaving Sunderland for Everton in the summer of 2017.

A solid debut campaign with the Toffees earned him a starting berth with England and the 24-year-old is now chasing down global glory on Russian soil.

Liverpool, meanwhile, continue to be linked with the likes of Alisson, Jan Oblak, Jack Butland and Jasper Cillessen.